Amethyst

Amethyst belongs to the quartz family.

Thanks to its intense violet colour, amethyst became an episcopal stone from the Renaissance onwards, a symbol of humility. It adorned the crosses of the Inquisition.

Amethysts are heated to between 470 and 750 degrees Celsius, turning them light yellow, reddish-brown, green (prasiolite) or colourless.

The violet colour is attributed to the presence of iron due to strong irradiation.

Amethyst deposits are found mainly in Brazil, Madagascar, Uruguay, Burma, the United States, etc.

Amethyst has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.