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
HMS Amethyst (1799) kept "Amethyst" from joining the action. The British brought "Dédaigneuse" into Royal Navy service as HMS "Dedaigneuse". Later on 28 January "Sirius" and "Amethyst" captured the Spanish Letter of Marque "Charlotta" (or "Carlotta") of Ferol, 16 hours out of Ferol on her way to Curaçao. The capture took place about six or seven leagues from Cape Belem in Galicia. The hired armed cutter "Earl St Vincent" shared in the capture. The next day captured the Spanish privateer "Intrepido Cid". "Amethyst" and "Sirius" shared in the prize money by agreement. On 16 March, "Amethyst" encountered and captured "Nostra Signora del Carmen",