Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name originates in Ancient Greece, where it was believed that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. It is one of several forms of quartz. Amethyst is also the traditional birthstone for February. We are offering a 4.25x6x1.25" deep stalactite amethyst specimen that showcases a crosscut of a stalactitic formation w/some foreign interior content encircled by pale brown rings that are in turn surrounded by clear quartz that is surrounded by amethyst crystals of a dark purple color. This example was found in Artigas, Uruguay, near the border of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil. One side has been polished. Exc.