Amethyst of synthetic quartz is used. Treated amethyst is produced by gamma ray, X-ray or electron beam irradiation of clear quartz (rock crystal) which has been first doped with ferric impurities. On exposure to heat, the irradiation effects can be partially cancelled and amethyst generally becomes yellow or even green, and much of the citrine, cairngorm, or yellow quartz of jewelry is said to be merely "burnt amethyst". The Greek word "amethystos" may be translated as "not drunken", from Greek "a-", "not" + "methustos", "intoxicated". Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were
HMS Amethyst (1903) HMS Amethyst (1903) HMS "Amethyst" was a third-class protected cruiser of the "Topaze" class of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1903, served during World War I at the Dardanelles and Gallipoli, in the Mediterranean and the South Atlantic. She was sold for scrap in 1920. She was laid down in January 1903 at Armstrong, Elswick, was launched on 5 November 1903 and was completed in March 1905. Until "Amethyst" was built, the largest warships fitted with steam turbines were destroyers. Their use in "Amethyst" reduced overall range at 10 knots by , but increased it by at 20