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
SS Empire Amethyst distress call from the American SS "Delvalla" which had been torpedoed by "U-154" and was sinking. "Prince Henry" headed for the reported position of the "Delvalla" and a Catalina aircraft was despatched. The survivors were taken aboard "Prince Henry". "U-154" spotted "Empire Amethyst" again at 11:42 hrs; she was again under escort by "Prince Henry" but at 16:00 hrs the escort had been lost. As he was short of torpedoes, Kapitän Kölle decided to attack from the surface. The chase began at 20:00 hrs with "Empire Amethyst" zig-zagging but generally following a heading of 110° towards Trinidad. "Empire Amethyst" managed