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) "Jonge Jacob". Captain Michael Seymour replaced Spranger. On 15 May 1807, "Amethyst" captured the privateer "Josephine" some 20 leagues from Scilly. "Josephine" was armed with four 2-pounders guns and small arms. She had a crew of 45 men, but had put ten on board "Jane", which had been sailing from Lisbon. "Josephine" had sailed from the Île de Batz and "Jane" was her only capture. When "Amethyst" captured "Josephine", "Amethyst" was in company with and . Then on 9 September "Amethyst" captured the Danish ship "Twende Venner". Later, on 18 October, "Amethyst" recaptured the ship "Susannah". "Amethyst" also recaptured the