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
Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld was left on Earth as an infant. This name, however, was then in use by another DC teen hero, Beast Boy. Dan Mishkin decided on "Amethyst" as a replacement, which in turn inspired the jewel-themed naming of other characters in the series and the nature of Gemworld as a whole. Amethyst first appeared as a special insert in "The Legion of Super-Heroes" #298 (April 1983). Her original story began shortly afterward in the twelve-issue "Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld" limited series in 1983, written and created by Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn with Ernie Colón as the artist. The initial 12-issue