Amethyst Chevron Amethyst Quality Tower - Height: 23.5 cm...

Amethyst is a violet variety of the mineral quartz and is the best-known stone in the quartz group. Brazil has important deposits of amethyst, which are mainly mined in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (with the town Ametista do Sul as the primary producer) and, secondarily, in Bahia. Brazil is the world's largest producer of gemstones. The name comes from Ancient Greek ἀμέθυστος (amethustos). Amethyst was already known to the Egyptians, Etruscans, and Romans, and Pliny the Elder had described amethyst. In ancient China, small gems were cut from amethyst. In the Middle Ages, amethyst was also highly valued in Europe. It was called bishop's stone, because it was a beloved gemstone for church dignitaries, and it was believed to possess magical powers. [source?] It was the symbol of lovers, the stone of temperance, a protector against sorcery and witchcraft. In Jacob van Maerlant, there is an explanation that the stone drives away drunkenness. It has been suggested that the Greek name means 'against drunkenness': wine drunk from a cup made of amethyst would not be able to make one drunk. It will be sent with maximum insurance.

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