Heliotrope (mineral)

Heliotrope
A heliotrope, also known as a bloodstone.
General
Category Mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		 SiO2 (silicon dioxide)
Crystal system Trigonal
Identification
Color Green with red or yellow spots
Mohs scale hardness 6.5–7
Luster Vitreous
Specific gravity 2.61
Refractive index 1.53–1.54
Birefringence 0.004

The mineral aggregate heliotrope (from Greek ἥλιος, hḗlios “Sun”, τρέπειν, trépein “to turn”), also known as bloodstone, is a variety of jasper or chalcedony (which is a cryptocrystalline mixture of quartz). The "classic" bloodstone is green jasper (chalcedony) with red inclusions of hematite.

The red inclusions are supposed to resemble spots of blood, hence the name bloodstone. The name heliotrope derives from various ancient notions about the manner in which the mineral reflects light. These are described, e.g., by Pliny the Elder (Nat. Hist. 37.165).[1]

Heliotrope was called "stone of Babylon" by Albert the Great[2] and he referred to several magical properties, which were attributed to it from Late Antiquity. Pliny the Elder (1st century) mentioned first that the magicians used it as a stone of invisibility.[3] Damigeron (4th century)[4] wrote about its property to make rain, solar eclipse and its special virtue in divination and preserving health and youth.

Heliotrope features as an invisibility stone in one of Boccaccio's stories in the Decameron and as a healing magic item in a musical comedy derived from it.

Heliotrope is sometimes used in carved signet rings and is the traditional birthstone for March.

Sources

The primary source of the stone is Indonesia, especially in Purbalingga district. It is also found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Australia, and the United States. There is also an outcrop of bloodstone on the Isle of Rum, in Scotland.

References

  • Hall, Candy A. (1994). Gem Stones. DK Publishing. ISBN 1-56458-498-4.
  1. ↑ "heliotrope". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. m-w.com.
  2. ↑ Albertus Magnus, De Mineralibus, II.5. in: id., Opera omnia, ed. Borgnet (Paris, 1890), vol. 5, Mineralia: pp. 1–116; on p. 36. Cf. Peter J. Barta, The Seal-ring of Proportion and the magic rings (2016), p. 50f.
  3. ↑ Pliny, Naturalis Historia, xxxvii, 57. His account was copied verbatim by Isidore of Seville(c. 560-636), Etymologies, XVI,7,12. Cf. Peter J. Barta, The Seal-ring of Proportion and the magic rings (2016), p. 47.
  4. ↑ Damigeron, De lapidibus (Abel), ch. II, p. 165, lines 1-19; Damigeron (Pitra), ch. XIX, vol. iii, p. 325-326. Cf. Peter J. Barta, The Seal-ring of Proportion and the magic rings (2016), pp. 48-49.
  • Media related to Heliotrop at Wikimedia Commons
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