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Amethyst Gemstones: History, Meanings, Properties & More

アメジストの宝石：歴史、意味、特性など

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When it comes to lovely and gorgeous gemstones, meet the elegant amethyst gemstone! This mystical purple jewel is sure to captivate you with its cosmic energy. But what is amethyst beyond a beautiful violet gem?

Amethyst is a lush quartz mineral with purple hues shimmering with serenity and spirituality. Because of their vivid coloring, amethyst stones make stunning faceted gemstones and raw crystals. Plus, who can resist an amethyst necklace or ring? 

With this purple stone handy, you’ll discover your true self and become one with the universe!

So, what’s the story behind this striking gemstone? In this complete guide, we’ll explore the amethyst stone’s specifications — which happen to be as diverse and textured as the gem itself! 

Let’s dive right in to uncover all the details of the amethyst!

What Is An Amethyst Stone?

The amethyst gemstone is a purple-colored silica mineral quartz. Other gemstones in this mineral group include citrine, agate, chalcedony, and onyx.

Amethyst is also the February birthstone! With rich violet hues that promise peace and stability, amethyst gems provide a welcoming warmth for the winter season. 

Speaking of winter, amethyst is the perfect gemstone for those born under the Zodiac sign Aquarius. For the visionary and intelligent Aquarius, amethyst can provide tranquility and bring out their very best nature. 

Are you thinking of surprising a loved one with a gift? If you’re approaching your 6th or 33rd anniversary, amethyst jewelry is a classy traditional present perfect for celebrations!

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the amethyst stone’s various geological properties and specifications.

Amethyst Properties

Like all quartz minerals, amethyst is a chemical compound called silicon dioxide. It turns out that 59 percent of our Earth’s crust contains silica. This mineral is so abundant that it has many uses, from jewelry designs to sand and cement production.

Thanks to silica’s rugged composition, amethyst ranks an admirable 7 on the MOHS hardness scale. That beats out steel nails and knife glass plates! With this sturdy and robust gem, you’ll be able to wear your jewelry anytime and anywhere.

Amethyst Characteristics

• Color: purple, violet, dark purple, purple-white

• Crystal structure: hexagonal

• Luster: vitreous (glass-like)

• Transparency: transparent to translucent

• Refractive index: 1.54-1.55

• Density: 2.6-2.7

• Cleavage: none

Now that we’ve gotten the general overview, let’s dig a little deeper into amethyst specifications.

Amethyst Gemstone Colors

Are you looking for 50 shades of purple? You’ll find it in amethyst. From deep royal purple to pale lilac, amethyst stones come in a wide range of colors. These gems are sure to take your breath away no matter what shade of purple they display.

One of the lightest-colored amethysts is the Rose de France, a delicate flower of a gemstone with pale lavender hues. As a symbol of love and femininity, this particular stone has been famous since the 18th century.

On the other hand, amethyst gems that contain more iron are darker in color. These captivating jewels beat to the rhythm of their own drums with their lush, rich tones.

No matter which amethyst stone you get, you’ll be able to catch different colors depending on the angle. Under daylight, you may see a more bluish-purple shade. In very bright light, you may glimpse brilliant flashes of red in your amethyst. 

Treatments

Gems must exhibit colors from lilac to deep purple to qualify as amethyst. Because amethyst is a quartz mineral, stones showing any other color than purple go by another name. For example, applying heat treatment to amethyst to turn it yellow-orange will result in a citrine gem.

But sometimes, heat treatment can deepen or lighten the stone’s saturation. Fortunately, the treatment has no adverse effect on the gem. The result is a stunning amethyst color variety!

Clarity

When shopping for a gemstone, an essential factor to keep in mind is clarity. All gems have inclusions within the stone. These are the result of the formation process. When crystal structures grow in the earth’s crust, they envelop nearby particles like dust, debris, and other minerals. The effect alters the gem’s appearance and structure. But these little imperfections aren’t always visible.

A stone is “eye-clean” if it lacks any visible inclusions. Most eye-clean gems possess greater pricing value.

The same goes for amethyst stones. For any that do show inclusions, they’ll often take the following forms:

• Feathers. True to their name, these inclusions are feather-like in appearance and made up of clear liquid. Unless there are many of them, feather inclusions will usually allow light to pass through the stone.

• Needles. These inclusions come in a variety of sizes. Some are large and noticeable, while others have a delicate, silk-like appearance.

Let’s switch over to the next C on our list: cut.

Cut

Amethyst cuts are just as diverse as their colors. Popular cuts include the oval, triangle, cushion, and emerald. Sometimes, you’ll find a free-spirited rough amethyst gemstone that doesn’t conform to a particular shape.

Amethyst gems with visible inclusions often become cabochon stones, smooth and polished round or oval-shaped gems. With this cut, even the lowest-clarity amethyst can spread its wings and shine on its own.

Let’s take a look at how amethyst has dazzled the masses since ancient times.

Amethyst Legends And History

Interestingly, the amethyst gemstone’s origins reach to the bottom of the bottle — or for the ancients: decanter! The name amethyst stems from the Greek term amethystos, or “not drunk.” In fact, there’s even a famous Greek legend of how the gods accidentally created amethyst. Let’s take a quick look!

A young maiden named Amethyst was heading home after worshipping at the temple of Artemis. Unfortunately, she came across a very angry Dionysus, who had just been insulted by someone. The god of wine vowed to unleash his wrath on whichever mortal crossed him next.

In his blind fury, Dionysus set his guardian tigers loose on poor Amethyst. To spare her a grisly death, Artemis transformed her into a clear stone.

Overcome by remorse, Dionysus poured his sacred wine over the stone, filling it with a rich purple color. He named the gem Amethyst after the young maiden.

Of course, this is just a fun myth! 

Historically, people wore amethyst gemstones as protective talismans against intoxication, disease, physical danger, sorcery, and defeat in battle.

To ward off drunkenness, the ancient Greeks and Romans encrusted their goblets with amethyst. They sometimes even placed the gems on their navels for protection. Over in Egypt, people wore amethyst amulets for prayer and protection against evil. 

During the Middle “Dark” Ages of doom and gloom, Catholic bishops adorned amethyst rings as safeguards against “mystical drunkenness” — people believed that kissing a bishop’s ring would extend you that same protection.

What’s next? Let’s explore how amethyst forms.

Amethyst Origins

Amethyst stones are unique even in the way they’re created. Unlike many other gems, amethyst grows in geodes – hollow rocks containing jutting crystal cavities. If you’ve ever stumbled on an uncracked geode, you might just step right past a little piece of treasure. From the outside, geodes look unassuming, but inside? Well, let’s have a look.

Geodes form near sites of volcanic activity. When lava erupts, gas bubbles form and create space cavities. As the lava cools and hardens, a silica-rich liquid containing traces of iron fills the crevices.

Over millions of years, this mineral-rich broth will crystallize into amethyst. As we’ve mentioned earlier, exposure to more iron (and radiation) produces amethyst gems with a deeper purple tone.

Where is amethyst found? Let’s tour some mining deposits around the world.

Amethyst Mining Locations

Amethyst deposits are in various parts of Africa, including Zambia, Tanzania, and Madagascar. 

Over in South America, Uruguay produces high-quality amethyst stones that are in demand. The state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil supplies large amethyst geodes as well.

Other amethyst mines are in Russia, Canada, India, and the US. In the US, deposits spread through the Texas and Arizona mountains, along with Yellowstone National Park.

So far, we’ve covered the amethyst stone’s specifications, history, origin, and mining locations. Let’s now look inward and toward the heavens as we explore amethyst meaning.

Amethyst Meaning

What is the meaning of the amethyst stone? And how can this vibrant, violet gem help you unlock the best version of yourself?

Amethyst symbolizes protection against any form of harm, including subconscious psychic attacks. The stone can guard you against negative emotions like sadness and grief, freeing you to charter forward without looking back.

Next time you’re about to go to bed, try placing amethyst by your bedside. This sparkling gemstone can capture your dreams and help you hold onto them long after you awaken. 

If you’re ever in need of a calming meditative aid, amethyst can ground your spirit. Take a deep breath with a gem in hand, clear your mind, and simply be. 

Can you feel that? That’s pure peace and harmony flowing through you. And with a renewed mind and soul, you can awaken your spiritual senses and connect with the cosmos. 

We’ve unlocked our connection to the universe. Now, let’s turn to the amethyst stone’s physical and spiritual healing powers.

Amethyst Healing Properties

It’s no secret that gemstones have powerful healing energy. So, what are some amethyst benefits for healing?

In terms of physical healing, amethyst may eliminate migraines, improve your immune system, and treat sleep disorders. For those struggling with alcohol or drugs, amethyst can help you regain sobriety. It may even defeat any cancers or malignant tumors. 

When it comes to emotional healing, amethyst powers include soothing any pain or stress that’s poisoning your energy. This can balance your emotions and help you achieve a healthier state of mind.

Chakras are sacred energy centers along the body that help sustain your spiritual well-being. Amethyst stones have the power to open your third eye and crown chakras. 

Third Eye Chakra

The third eye chakra is located right between the eyes. When this chakra is unbalanced, it can diminish your clarity and judgment. Thankfully, amethyst can counteract these crippling consequences and reawaken your intuition. 

Crown Chakra

The crown chakra swirls at the crown of your head and emits violet-white energy. It contains the tremendous forces of spiritual enlightenment and self-divinity. When this chakra is blocked, you can suffer from depression and feel alienated from the world. Amethyst can reactivate this chakra and help you find yourself again. 

We know that amethyst has many exceptional properties. So, what are amethyst stones worth?

Pricing and Value

Amethyst stone prices will vary depending on many factors. Not to worry, though – we’ve broken some of them down for you.

A quick Google search will show that amethyst gems and jewelry typically cost between $2-30+ per carat. For amethysts sold in clusters or geodes, wholesale prices can range from $10-100 per kilogram. Retail prices will be much more expensive than that.

Regarding color value, amethyst gemstones with darker hues are more valuable and expensive. Meanwhile, gems with color zoning – stones that have bronze tints – have a lower value. The same goes for amethysts with visible inclusions.

The most expensive amethyst stones on the market are called Siberian amethysts. These high-grade gems are scarce and dark purple, with red and blue tints.

Siberian amethysts are not necessarily from Siberia. However, they’re named that way since the best amethyst mines used to be in Siberia.

Bottom line: choose a gemstone that resonates with you and your lifestyle. 

Care And Maintenance

While amethyst is a trusty, durable gemstone, it does need ongoing care and maintenance to stay in tip-top shape! How can you care for your precious purple gems? To keep amethysts safe from heat, abrasions, and tarnishing, avoid mechanical cleaners like ultrasonics. Instead, keep it simple.

• Grab a soft brush or microfiber towel, fragrance-free cleanser, and warm water.

• Always clean your gems away from a sink or carpet to protect them from getting lost in the process.

• Gently scrub the gem in a bowl of warm water and mild detergent to rub away buildup and grime.

• Then, wipe the gem down with a soft microfiber towel.

Now your gem’s good as new! Do this as needed, or once a month to keep your treasure sparkling in all its glory.

Buy Amethyst Stones Today!

And that wraps up everything you need to know about amethyst stones! As you can see, these purple-hued gems are a sight for sore eyes. Moreover, amethysts are reliable, durable, and stunning gemstones sure to turn heads. 

Filled with legend and folklore, amethyst's prevalence in ancient society is equally diverse and fascinating today. And while we might not always dunk a gem into a goblet to ward off intoxication, we certainly use them for healing, meditation, and jewelry!

With an amethyst stone in hand, you’ll thrive as the powerful and divine person you are. At the very least, you’ll have a stunning violet jewel that’s sure to turn heads wherever you go.

Are you looking for a purple gemstone to add to your collection? Shop for amethyst stones today!

Amethyst