Amethyst

a variety of quartz, stained a violet blue or purple by a trace of iron or manganese. It is a very handsome stone, much used for charms, seals, and rings, but is too common to be considered precious. It occurs in crystals in the interior of agate geodes, nodules, and other rock cavities. The finest specimens are obtained in India, Ceylon, Brazil, and Siberia. Very handsome amethysts are obtained on the shores of Lake Superior, deriving their stain from the Iron Range. Amethyst is a Greek word, signifying without intoxication, given from a popular belief that the wearer of an amethyst was in a measure exempt from danger of becoming intoxicated. The amethystine sapphire, a gem of great beauty and brilliancy, is often called the oriental amethyst. It is a variety of corundum.