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 (1799) Guadaloupe, and his suite. On 30 July, "Amethyst" and two other frigates, and , sailed from Plymouth for the Isle of wight. There they were to pick up Dutch troops that they were to return to Holland. On 10 September "Amethyst" captured the French lugger "Alert", and recaptured a ship. In October 1801 Captain Charles Taylor took command of "Amethyst", only to be replaced in the next month by Captain Henry Glynn, for the North Sea. During the Peace of Amiens, "Amethyst" sailed on anti-smuggling patrols off the coast of Scotland under the command of Captain Alexander Campbell. During the