Quartz is said to be one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust, composed of silicon and oxygen, and in its purest state it is colorless. Purple quartz is called Amethyst and had been considered by many as one of the more prized variety of quartz and has been said to have been used in personal adornment for over 2000 years.
Amethyst is found in a variety of geologic settings but most commmonly as crystals lining interior cavities of volcanic rock. Iron replaces some of the silicon atoms which renders the color a beautiful purple. The intensity of the purple color can vary from one part of the crystal to another. These color variations are known as “color zoning” and often reflect the crystal's hexagonal geometry. The most intense purple color is often seen near the termination of the crystals. The major sources for amethyst are from regions in Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia.
Deeper into the science -
According to some theories, negative ion emission could draw certain free radicals out of the body. Some researchers have determined that because amethyst emits negative ions, it could potentially bring about the benefits of negative ion emission. Negative ions appear to attract toxic particles, and if so, the potential to draw out toxic particles from the body could aid in respiration by removing these particles from the lungs, even remove dangerous chemicals like aerosol from the air and your body.
Amethyst produces small but detectable of magnetic fields. High levels of magnetic fields are dangerous (particularly from electronics), but the naturally-occurring magnetic fields from amethyst may actually produce favorable results in the body. Since the human body has its own magnetic field, proponents believe that amethyst interacts and exchanges energy with the body. The stone also absorbs and reflects far-infrared radiation, a type of long-wavelength radiation.
Far-infrared radiation is currently being studied for a variety of health benefits for the human body such as cell generation and wound support, regulating sleep-wake cycles, blood circulation, mood stimulation, and even in fighting bacteria.
As researches continue to unravel the energetic properties and potential health benefits of these incredibly beautiful crystals, the Amethyst is undoubtedly a wonderful addition to any connoisseur's collection.
SOURCES:
Smithsonian: Smithsonian GeoGallery
National Center for Biotechnology Information: 2689357 , 28127644