For individuals with February birthdays, the amethyst makes a perfect birthstone. This month is often cold, dark, & short for many people around the world, so the amethyst—which is often associated with qualities of peace, courage and stability—is the right gem for individuals who need a little extra warmth and strength this time of year. The purple variety of quartz that has captivated mankind for millennia. Its lilac to deep purple...

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz often used as an ornament. The name comes from the Greek a ("not") and methustos ("to intoxicate"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication.   Composition Amethyst is composed of an irregular superposition of alternate lamellae of...