Amethyst crystals are one of the world’s most popular gemstones and have been in use for thousands of years. The believed healing properties of the stone are rather impressive and trace back to ancient Greek beliefs. In fact, the word ‘amethyst’ comes from the Greek word amethystos, which means sober and alludes to the idea of maintaining a solid, sober mindset.
Amethysts forms in long, prismatic crystals in geodes or hollow rocks. These geodes form when there are cavities in volcanic rock. As the rock cools, the mineral-saturated water, gases and volcanic material distil and crystallize. When these crystals harden, they form amethyst. Although generally more of a deeper purple, the stone can also have a reddish-purple tinge, or a very pale purple tinge that fades into a lilac.
