HELIOTROPE, in mineralogy, is the mineral commonly called " bloodstone " (q.v.), and sometimes termed girasol-a name applied also to fire-opal. The name, like those of many ancient names of minerals, seems to have had a fanciful origin. According to Pliny the stone was so called because when thrown into the water it turned the sun's light falling upon it into a reflection like that of blood.
End of Article: HELIOTROPE |
|
[back] HELIOSTAT (from Gr. rtXtor, the sun, vrares, fixed,... |
[next] HELIOTROPE, or TURNSOLE |
There are no comments yet for this article.
Do not copy, download, transfer, or otherwise replicate the site content in whole or in part.
Links to articles and home page are encouraged.