|Structure: Trigonal|Composition: Silicon Dioxide|Moh's Hardness: 7|

Amethyst

Amethyst is coloured by iron traces, it has been a favourite through history from the Pharaohs of Egypt to Catherine the Great of Russia. It is found where granite stone has been exposed to the surface.

Greek legend states that the stone was formed from a beautiful young girl, Amethyst. Dionysus, the God of Revelling and Drink, once swore, in a drunken rage, that the next person to walk by would be torn to pieces by tigers. Athene saw that Amethyst was approaching and to save the girl from such a fate, turned the beautiful girl to pure white stone. Full of remorse, Dionysus wept into his wine and then poured the remainder of his drink over the stone, staining it purple.

This variety of quartz is accepted as the birthstone of February. Ranging in hue from light lilac to deep purple, the deepest colours generally from Africa. Paler colours come from Brazil. Amethyst has a long association with religion, it was one of the stones on the breastplate of Aaron, high priest and brother of Moses. Like fluorite it is believed to bring sobriety, and goblets were fashioned from amethyst to stop the drinker from getting inebriated.

High grade amethyst is known as 'Bishops Grade'. Pale pinkish amethyst is known as 'Rose de France'.

In healing amethyst is said to make you spiritually open and aware, purifying and cleansing on all levels, bringing contentment. Leonardo di Vinci stated that it "Dissipates evil thoughts and quickens intelligence." Amethyst is traditionally given as a gift to show humility, sincerity and sobriety.

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|Structure: Trigonal|Composition: Silicon dioxide|Moh's Hardness:7|

Ametrine

Ametrine - a natural occurrence of intergrown amethyst and citrine, often cut in 50/50 to show the best of both stones.

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|Structure: Trigonal|Composition: Silicon dioxide|Moh's Hardness: 7|

Citrine

Yellow quartz, coloured by tiny iron particles within the clear stone, citrine is believed to cure snake bites.

Named from the Latin for lemon 'citrus'.
Good quality citrine is indeed lemon coloured, lesser quality stones are brandy coloured.

Many commercial stones are created by heat-treating amethyst.

Sometimes confused with topaz and used as a less expensive alternative for the November stone.

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Cairngorm / Smokey or Brown Quartz

Found on all continents, this brown quartz is coloured by natural radiation.

Brown/Smokey quartz from Scotland is known as 'Cairngorm'. Low quality amethyst is often irradiated to produce smoky quartz.