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
Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst rescue attempt by two other ships also comes under heavy fire and has to be aborted. Fifty-four of "Amethyst"s crew are dead, dying or seriously wounded, while others deteriorate from the tropical heat and the lack of essential medicines, including the ship's captain, who dies of his wounds. An attempt to evacuate the wounded is only partially successful - the officers of the "Amethyst" become aware that two petty officers have been captured by the PLA and are being held at a nearby military hospital. Lieutenant Commander John Kerans (Richard Todd), a naval attaché in nearby Nanking, is ordered to