Amethyst

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek amethystos (Ancient Greeks) methysko  meaning "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected the owner from drunkenness.

Ancient Greeks wore amethyst and even carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication.  However, how well this worked out for them is up to you ;)

In the Bible however, amethyst appears in the breastplate of the High Priest (Exodus 28:19, 39:12) as one of the precious stones, and as one of the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem in Revelation (Revelation 21:20). The Hebrew word for amethyst, "ahlamah," translates to "dream stone," hinting at a close association with divine visions. 

Amethyst is found in many locations around the world. One of the largest and most significant discoveries of Amethyst was in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, though before the 1900’s it was valued on par with diamonds and emeralds primarily found in Russia with lesser amounts found in several other locations around the world including Africa, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Afghanistan, South Korea, Mexico, and the United States.  

However, it has recently been found in such large quantities in Brazil that the Value of Amethyst has dropped significantly due to the increased availability of this gemstone.  

Amethyst stone has a Mohs Hardness of 7.

Also, though it is not recommended, it is possible to perform a “scratch test” by attempting to lightly scratch the surface of the material with a steel knife or key.  The genuine material should be hard enough to be unaffected by this test.  

Note: It is best to avoid storing this material in direct sunlight as prolonged exposure can lead to fading color over time.