Why you should buy Amethyst.
Scott's introduction to Amethyst
Firstly let me introduce myself. My name is Scott and I have recently started working in our family business CrystalsNGems. I am on a personal journey of discovery and I want to share my learning with you. I will be writing numerous blogs about the different crystals our planet has to offer. Giving insight into their history and what makes them so special.
I start this series of blogs with Amethyst. The reason for this is that it was the first crystal that I learned about. Because of CrystalsNGems I grew up around crystals and I was always curious about the deep purple that Amethyst has. I started to ask myself questions about Amethyst, and I would always ask my parents about it.
Where does amethyst come from?
There are notable sources of Amethyst in Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Zambia. Amethyst from Brazil and Uruguay can be separated from each other by their size and colour. Brazilian Amethyst have larger crystals and Uruguyan Amethyst has deep purple crystals which are smaller. Other sources of Amethyst on our planet can come from Australia, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Canada, Namibia, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, and the state of North Carolina in the United States.
Why is some amethyst more expensive than others?
If you are looking to buy Amethyst to add to your collection, or as a gift for someone, it is important to understand what you are looking for. If Amethyst is a deep purple this means it is of higher quality and therefore more expensive, so choose wisely. Amethyst gets its colour from the presence of iron and trace elements as well as natural irradation.
There are many different kinds of Amethyst. Deep purple Amethysts with red and blue flashes are known as Siberian Amethyst. These amethyst are extrmely rare, and they get their name from the harsh environment of Siberia deep inside of Russia. The term ‘Siberian quality’ is used to class the quality of Amethyst.
These days any kind of deep purple Amethyst can be referred to as Siberian Amethyst even if it doesn’t directly come from Siberia. Rose De France Amethyst was first discovered in Brazil, but now comes from Bolivia. These Amethysts are usually pale, pinkish voilet, or lilac. These can be used in jewelry as they are very romantic in nature.
Ametrines are made on the rare occasion when Amethyst joins with Citrine. These crystals are found with noticable purple, yellow and red/orange zones.
Two specialities of Amethyst include Vera Cruz Amethyst and Thunder Bay Amethyst.
Vera Cruz Amethyst is mined in the Los Vigas mine in Mexico. It comes in a lavender shade of purple, and they display many incredible attributes. They can contain phantoms, as well as single and double terminated points. The most incredible feature though is a feature called enhydro. This occurs when water bubbles are locked inside the crystal with the freedom to move around.
Thunder Bay Amethyst is a special type of Amethyst that comes from Thunder Bay in Canada. The geography and shores of Lake Superior are perfect grounds for amethyst formation due to its high iron content in the soil. There are many mines in the area that tourists can actually visit. The mining and trading of Thunder Bay Amethyst dates back to the 19th century. Thunder Bay Amethyst is special because sometimes it displays a reddish coating of Hematite. The stone is of such high importance that it was named the gemstone of Ontario in 1975.
Check out our current amethyst collection here.
The Spiritual Perspective of Amethyst.
From a spiritual perspective, Amethyst is the February birthstone for both modern and tradtional birthstone lists. This could explain why I have always been drawn Amethyst. The stone is commonly talked about as a stone of peace, and that it can give peoples dreams a soothing quality, as well as help people to be more in tune with the divine.
The History of Amethyst.
Its not just me that has a love for Amethyst. The ancient Egyptians carved Amethyst into animals, and they created amulets which were used as a form of prayer and protection. The Egyptians associated the stone with the god Osiris who was the god of the underworld, fertility, and agriculture.
The greeks created Amethyst carvings as well as Jewelry. In ancient Greece, the word Amethystos meant ‘not drunk’ the ancient greeks believed that if you were wearing Amethyst or had Amethyst in your mouth you could drink all through the night and not get drunk.
As society moved into the middle ages, Amethyst was worn be priests, and the colour purple was associated with royalty. Amethyst was used in both crowns and scepters.
Amethyst influences Poet's as well.
As a poet myselfy, I learned that the French poet Remy Belleau used this information to create a myth in the year 1576. The myth is about Bacchus, the roman god of Wine and is layed out below:
Long ago, a beautiful maiden was on her way to worship at the Temple of Diana. However, she had the misfortune of crossing paths with the god of wine, Bacchus. Angered since he'd just suffered some slight, he'd vowed to take revenge on the next person he met. He spied the maid and unleashed his two guardian tigers upon her. As the great beasts bounded towards the hapless lass, the goddess Diana intervened. To spare her such a terrible fate, she turned her into a pure, clear stone. Immediately, remorse seized Bacchus. To atone for his actions, he poured his wine over the stone, staining the crystal a deep, violet hue. And so, the maiden Amethyst lent her name to the crystal.
I hope that after reading this blog you have a better understanding of Amethyst, and that maybe my blog has encouraged you to learn more about this incredible crystal.
Next time, I will be learning all about the different types and history of Fluorite.
To see Scott's blog video on social network use the links below:
