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 (1903) HMS Amethyst (1903) HMS "Amethyst" was a third-class protected cruiser of the "Topaze" class of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1903, served during World War I at the Dardanelles and Gallipoli, in the Mediterranean and the South Atlantic. She was sold for scrap in 1920. She was laid down in January 1903 at Armstrong, Elswick, was launched on 5 November 1903 and was completed in March 1905. Until "Amethyst" was built, the largest warships fitted with steam turbines were destroyers. Their use in "Amethyst" reduced overall range at 10 knots by , but increased it by at 20