Heliotrope (bloodstone)

Uncommon card · No. 143777

Heliotrope (from Ancient Greek ἥλιος (hḗlios) 'sun' and τρέπειν (trépein) 'to turn') (also called ematille, Indian bloodstone or simply bloodstone), is a mineral aggregate, a cryptocrystalline mixture of quartz that occurs mostly as jasper (opaque) or sometimes as chalcedony (translucent). The "classic" bloodstone is translucent to opaque green chalcedony and red jasper that contains inclusions of hematite. The red jasper may resemble spots of blood, hence the name bloodstone. Other colors of chalcedony may also occur in Indian bloodstone, such as white, yellow, or blue. This semiprecious stone should not be confused with other ornamental stones that contain red jasper. Setonite, also called African bloodstone, is composed of red jasper, grey chalcedony, and pyrite. Dragon's Blood, sometimes called Australian bloodstone, is composed of red jasper and green epidote. The name heliotrope derives from ancient beliefs about the manner in which the mineral reflects light. Such notions are...

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