Amethyst

Amethyst earrings hand cut and polished. Set in .925 Silver

Center stone is approximately .75" x .75"  20mm x 20mm

Amethyst is a variety of the mineral quartz and is the rarest member of the quartz family. It has the same chemical formula as quartz, which is SiO2

Until the 19th century, amethyst was primarily mined in Russia. However, supply dramatically increased when natural sources of its crystals were discovered in Brazil. Today, amethyst can be found all over the world, from Africa to Asia, to South America.

Amethyst's "origin" has two aspects: geological formation and human discovery/naming. Geologically, it's a purple variety of quartz formed over millions of years from silica-rich, mineral-infused fluids seeping into gas-filled cavities (geodes) in volcanic rock, with iron and radiation giving it its color. Historically, the term "amethyst" comes from the Ancient Greek word amethystos, meaning "not drunk," as the gem was believed to protect against intoxication.