Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek ἀμέθυστος "amethystos" from ἀ- "a-", "not" and μεθύσκω "methysko" / μεθύω "methyo", "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst is a semiprecious stone often used in jewelry and is the traditional birthstone for February. Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO) and owes its violet color to irradiation, iron impurities (in some cases in conjunction with transition
SS Empire Amethyst distress call from the American SS "Delvalla" which had been torpedoed by "U-154" and was sinking. "Prince Henry" headed for the reported position of the "Delvalla" and a Catalina aircraft was despatched. The survivors were taken aboard "Prince Henry". "U-154" spotted "Empire Amethyst" again at 11:42 hrs; she was again under escort by "Prince Henry" but at 16:00 hrs the escort had been lost. As he was short of torpedoes, Kapitän Kölle decided to attack from the surface. The chase began at 20:00 hrs with "Empire Amethyst" zig-zagging but generally following a heading of 110° towards Trinidad. "Empire Amethyst" managed