Amethyst in Greek means "not drunk." This name is explained by the protective abilities of this semiprecious stone. It purifies the consciousness of its owner and protects it from negative external influences. That is why rich people preferred to use amethyst cups. It was believed that in this case, the drunk wine will not cloud the mind.
It is a special kind of quartz. As a rule, it has a purple color. Due to the unique color, he was especially distinguished by church ministers who decorated amethyst utensils for worship. A ring with amethyst was a hallmark of the highest spiritual ranks.
Amethyst color scheme
In nature there are amethysts of such colors:
- Violet
- Pink;
- Purple;
- Green;
- Black.
The most common is the purple variety. Moreover, the shade of amethysts has a different intensity, up to a dense violet color. The color of the stone depends on the amount of manganese or iron ions that are interspersed in the structure of quartz. To admire the various varieties of amethyst, just follow the link .
The green stone, also called prazolite, is found only in Brazil. Its color is also very rich in a variety of shades. And needle impregnations add to it amazing piquancy.
Black amethyst has been formed in the bowels of the earth for many centuries. It has the unique ability to rid a person of the effects of stress. In addition, it is believed that amethyst helps in the search for spiritual enlightenment.
How to distinguish natural amethyst
Being a kind of quartz, amethyst acquired its density and hardness. The stone is almost impossible to scratch. The main difference between a natural amethyst and its artificial counterpart is color. Natural stone has an uneven color, sometimes it is very intense. This is what distinguishes it from an artificial product, which has a uniform and everywhere the same color.
Amethyst looks especially beautiful in the sun. But if it is heated for a long time, then it acquires a yellowish-greenish tint. If the stone is immersed in water, then its edges will become discolored. This is another opportunity to distinguish natural quartz from artificially grown stone. Last contact with water does not change its color at all.