The name is derived from the Greek words "prason" and "lithos," which means "leek stone." So, when discovered, the green color resembled the shades of the leek and other vegetables. This stone can start out purple, but with additional heating, either in the earth or in a laboratory, shades of green are pulled out. The variety of purple amethyst that contains the iron necessary to make the color transition to green is mostly. This process uses colorless quartz and produces lighter shades of green. Green Amethyst - The Wonders of Prasiolite Amethyst is a member of the quartz family which means its chemical make-up is silicon dioxide. Naturally occurring green amethyst is also called prasiolite.

Trace elements of other minerals or metals are the catalyst for the color of the stone. Natural stones are rare, but the growing popularity of the stone prompted laboratory heat-treatments to expand the availability. It is also less expensive than prasiolite or green amethyst. Another treatment that is being done to achieve green-colored quartz is irradiation.

Quartz is found all over the world.