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
SS Empire Amethyst SS Empire Amethyst Empire Amethyst was an 8,032 ton tanker which was built in 1941. She was torpedoed and sunk by on 13 April 1942. "Empire Amethyst" was built by the Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees as yard number 330. She was launched on 8 July 1941 and completed in December 1941. "Empire Amethyst" was built for the Ministry of War Transport and operated under the management of the Hadley Shipping Co Ltd, Middlesbrough. "Empire Amethyst" was homeported in Middlesbrough. "Empire Amethyst" was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War. Convoy ON 17 sailed