Amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, and for most of history it has been counted among the precious stones. This page covers what it is, where it comes from, the stories people have told about it, and how to look after it.

What it is

Amethyst is silicon dioxide, the same mineral family as clear quartz, and it has a Mohs hardness of 7, which makes it tough enough for everyday jewellery. Its purple comes from traces of iron within the crystal structure, combined with natural irradiation over a very long time. Colour is often uneven, with deeper bands near the tips of the crystals.

It forms in cavities in volcanic rock, where slow-growing crystals line the inside of a hollow to make a geode. Brazil and Uruguay are famous for large geodes, and gem-quality material also comes from Zambia, Madagascar, Russia and North America. Heating amethyst can change the colour to yellow or orange, which is one route by which citrine is produced commercially.

History and culture

The name comes from the Greek amethystos, meaning “not intoxicated”. Ancient Greek writers connected the stone with sobriety, and the story was told that wearing it, or drinking from an amethyst cup, would keep a person clear-headed at a feast. That is a piece of classical folklore, and the stone has been carrying the association ever since.

In later centuries the colour made amethyst a mark of rank. Purple dyes were costly in the ancient Mediterranean, and purple stones took on some of that status. Amethyst appears in medieval church rings and in European royal regalia, and in Christian tradition it has often been linked with bishops and with spiritual seriousness. Until large Brazilian deposits were opened in the nineteenth century it was valued much more highly than it is now, because good crystals were harder to find.

Amethyst is also the traditional birthstone for February. See the February birthstone page for how the month and the stone came to be paired.

What crystal traditions associate with it

In many crystal traditions, amethyst is associated with calm, reflection and a sense of spiritual focus. Some people connect it with the crown of the head in the chakra system borrowed from Indian traditions, and with the zodiac sign Pisces, though lists of zodiac stones differ from one source to the next. These are associations held by the traditions, not findings of science.

How people use it

Many people keep a small piece on a desk or bedside table simply because the colour pleases them. Others hold a tumbled stone during quiet time or meditation, or place a cluster in a room they use for reflection. Amethyst is widely made into rings, pendants and beads, and raw geode halves are popular as decoration.

Care and safety

• Amethyst can fade in strong, prolonged sunlight, so avoid a sunny windowsill for jewellery or display pieces.
• It tolerates a quick rinse in lukewarm water and soft cloth drying, but avoid sudden heat, which can change the colour.
• Cluster pieces may have glued or porous bases, so check before soaking.
• Crystals are not safe to swallow. Do not put any stone in drinking water.

Sourcing

Amethyst is mined at scale, and small-scale mining in parts of the world involves hard conditions for workers. If provenance matters to you, ask a seller where the stone was mined and how it was bought. Heated or dyed stones are also common, so ask whether a stone has been coloured or heated.

A note on health. Crystals are valued for beauty, meaning and ritual. There is no scientific evidence that they treat health conditions. If you are struggling with your health or mood, please speak to a doctor.

Frequently asked questions