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Amethyst is a transparent variety of quartz that contains trace amounts of iron, an impurity that lends amethyst its lovely violet hues. Class: semiprecious Origin of Name: possibly from the Greek amethustos ("not drunken"), perhaps given to the stone in the belief that the wearer would not suffer greatly from drinking too much alcohol Color: various shades of purple Chemical Composition: silica Crystal System: trigonal Hardness: 7 Specific Gravity: 2.65 Geographic Origins: Brazil, Mexico, Ontario Next Photo: ©International Colored Gemstone Association/Van Rossen The Science Behind the Sparkle | Diamonds in the Sky A Primer of Gemstones | See Inside a Diamond Resources | Transcript | Site Map | Diamond Deception Home Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated November 2000 |
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