Healthier Heat -- BioMat Amethyst

Amethyst

Amethyst naturally emits Far Infrared rays!

The amethyst inside each BioMat is of Korean origin,
which is known for maintaining the integrity of its 6.8 micron
frequency at all times.

Its color is as unique as it is seductive, though in fact this gemstone
is said to protect its wearer against seduction. The amethyst is extravagance in violet.
For many thousands of years, this striking representative of the quartz family
has been a jewel coveted by princes both ecclesiastical and secular.
Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God and the Russian Empress
Catherine the Great sent thousands of miners into the Urals to look for it.

In popular belief, the amethyst offers protection against drunkenness —
for the Greek word 'amethystos' means 'not intoxicated' in translation.
A more apt stone for the month of February, particularly if there is to be
plenty going on in the way of carnival celebrations, could hardly be wished for.

A large number of further miraculous powers are attributed to the amethyst
in all sorts of cultures. It was said to protect crops against tempests and locusts,
bring good fortune in war and in the hunt, drive out evil spirits and inspire the intellect.
A little study of the works of Pliny will reveal that this gemstone,
if worn around the neck on a cord made from dog's hair, affords protection against snakebite.
Later, Hieronymus even reported that eagles placed an amethyst in their nest
in order to protect their young from the selfsame danger.
Apart from these powers, gemstone therapists say that the amethyst
has a sobering and cleansing effect. Amethyst has also been said to
quell excessive stomach acid and, according to Hildegard von Bingen,
served to combat insect bites and beautify the skin.

But the amethyst not only had a firm niche in medicine; it was also esteemed
as a stone of friendship. And since it was thought to put the wearer in
a chaste frame of mind and symbolize trust and piety, the amethyst came to occupy
a very prominent position in the ornaments of the Catholic clergy over the centuries.
It was the stone of bishops and cardinals which pre-dates crosses and the Papal Ring.

Chemistry

Amethyst (SiO2) is a violet or purple variety of quartz.
In the 20th century, the color of amethyst was attributed to the presence of manganese.
However, since it is capable of being greatly altered and even discharged by heat,
the color was believed by some authorities to be from a different source.
Ferric thiocyanate was suggested, and sulfur was said to have been detected in the mineral.

Composition

Amethyst is composed of an irregular superposition of alternate lamellae
of right-handed and left-handed quartz. It has been shown that this structure
may be due to mechanical stresses. As a consequence of this composite formation,
amethyst is apt to break with a rippled fracture or to show "thumb markings," and
the intersection of two sets of curved ripples may produce on the fractured surface
a pattern something like that of "engine turning." Some mineralogists,
following Sir David Brewster, apply the name of amethyst to all quartz
which exhibits this structure, regardless of color.

Because it has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, amethyst is treasured for its use in jewelry. However, it is still just 1/15th as hard as diamond.

More Amethyst History

Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was
largely employed in antiquity for intaglios. Beads of amethyst are found
in Anglo-Saxon graves in England. It is a widely distributed mineral, but fine,
clear specimens that are suitable for cutting as ornamental stones are confined
to comparatively few localities. Such crystals occur either in the cavities of mineral-veins,
in granitic rocks, or as a lining in agate geodes. A huge geode, or "amethyst-grotto,"
from near Santa Cruz in southern Brazil was exhibited at the Düsseldorf Exhibition of 1902.
Many of the hollow agates of Brazil and Uruguay contain a crop of amethyst crystals
in the interior. Much fine amethyst comes from Russia, especially from near Mursinka
in the Ekaterinburg district, where it occurs in drusy cavities in granitic rocks.
Many localities in India yield amethyst; and it is found also in Sri Lanka, chiefly as pebbles.

An Amethyst by Any Other Name ...

Due to its popularity as a gemstone, several descriptive terms have been coined
in the gem trade to describe the varying colors of amethyst.
"Rose de France" is usually a pale pinkish lavender or lilac shade
(usually the least-sought color). The most prized color is an intense violet with
red flashes and is called "Siberian," although gems of this color may occur from
several locations other than Siberia, notably Uruguay and Zambia. In more recent times,
certain gems (usually of Bolivian origin) that have shown alternate bands of
amethyst purple with citrine orange have been given the name ametrine.

Purple corundum, or sapphire of amethystine tint, is called Oriental amethyst,
but this expression is often applied by jewelers to fine examples of the ordinary
amethystine quartz, even when not derived from eastern sources.
Professional gemological associations, such as the Gemological Institute
of America (GIA) or the American Gemological Society (AGS), discourage
the use of the term "Oriental amethyst" to describe any gem, as it may be misleading.

The Second Book of Pseudo-Albertus Magnus, Of the Vertues of Certaine Stones,
refers to amethysts by the name Amarictus.

Geographic distribution

Amethyst occurs at many localities in the United States, but these specimens are rarely fine enough for use in jewelry. Among these may be mentioned Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Haywood County, North Carolina; and Deer Hill and Stow, Maine. It is found also in the Lake Superior region. Amethyst is relatively common in northwestern Ontario, and in various locations throughout Nova Scotia, but uncommon elsewhere in Canada. Amethyst is produced in abundance from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil where it occurs in large geodes within volcanic rocks.

Value

Traditionally included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald), amethyst has lost much of its value due to the discovery of extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil.

Amethyst in folklore and astrology

Amethyst is the birthstone associated with February. It is also associated with the astrological signs of Pisces, Aries (especially the violet and purple variety), Aquarius, and Sagittarius. It is a symbol of heavenly understanding, and of the pioneer in thought and action on the philosophical, religious, spiritual, and material planes. Ranking members of the Roman Catholic Church traditionally wear rings set with a large amethyst as part of their office.

Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved from it. Supposedly, when a drunken Dionysus was pursuing a maiden called Amethystos, who refused his affections, she prayed to the gods to remain chaste. The goddess Artemis granted the prayer, transforming her into a white stone; humbled by Amethystos' desire to remain chaste, Dionysus poured wine over the stone she had become as an offering, dying the crystals purple.

Or: "The legend of the origin of amethyst comes from Greek myths. Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered one day by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today."

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