"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death."
-Leonardo da Vinci
About the Amethyst Crystal
Amethyst is a variety of quartz that ranges in color from pale lilac to deep purple. The color is caused by the presence of iron and other trace elements in the crystal lattice. The iron ions are responsible for the purple color and can be present in different valence states. The hardness of amethyst is 7 on the Mohs scale, which is the same as regular quartz, making it durable and suitable for use in jewelry. Amethyst has a wide distribution around the world, found in many locations including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Russia, and the United States.
Admired for its beauty since antiquity, the color of amethyst has been found to be caused by the presence of iron ions (Fe3+) in the crystal lattice, which are substituted for silicon ions. This substitution can be caused by irradiation, and is often accompanied by the presence of trace elements of large ionic radius. The color can range from reddish violet to bluish violet, and amethyst is dichroic, meaning it can display different colors when viewed from different angles. The color of amethyst can also be caused by other transition elements, such as manganese and titanium. Natural amethyst can display a range of purple hues due to varying concentrations of these impurities and structural characteristics.