Amethyst, the Birthstone of February

What is amethyst? Amethyst is a traditionally purple gemstone that is the birthstone for February. It is also the traditional gift for the 17th wedding anniversary. It is quartz, and small amounts of iron impurities in the crystal produce its violet color. On the Mohs Hardness Scale used to measure hardness in gemstones, it is a 7 on a scale of 1-10, which makes it ideal for jewelry since it is not prone to easy breakage. It can also come in any color from a pale pink-purple to a deep, dark violet and the colors in between. Red and blue hues are present in different stones, which gives amethyst many unique colors. New Age practices consider amethyst a stone of healing. When amethyst is not used in jewelry, it is often left attached to white quartz crystals and the stone that it was growing on, and sold as decorative pieces. Some geodes, which are stones with hollow cavities, that have amethyst in them are displayed at natural history museums.

Where is amethyst mined?
Amethyst has the distinct pleasure of being one of the more common gemstones, yet one of the most beautiful. It is mined all over the world, including Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Uruguay, and the United States. Most of the amethyst mined in the United States is not jewelry-quality. Its low price is attributed to large deposits being discovered in Brazil.

How should amethyst be cared for?
Keep your amethyst jewelry clean. To do so, use jewelry cleaner and a soft bristled brush (a toothbrush works great, but not toothpaste!). Do not use bleach or leave your jewelry to soak, as both may damage the luster of the stone. Most jewelry stores will clean your jewelry for free if you ask. Also, take care not to expose your amethyst to high levels of heat! That will cause it to turn yellow, which some people will recognize as the gemstone citrine.

The mythology of amethyst
Amethyst was once believed by the early Greeks and Romans to protect against drunkenness. Amethyst is even from the Greek "amethustos," which means not drunken. The purple color of the stone was said to be a product of Dionysus' wine. Goblets were made of amethyst because the people drinking believed it would prevent them from becoming intoxicated. The belief continued into medieval Europe before simply becoming myth. Thought to symbolize piety, amethyst was also important to the Catholic church, and other Middle Age churches. Bishops of the Catholic faith still often wear amethyst rings.