About the Properties of Crocidolite and Heliotrope

CROCIDOLITE.

Crocidolite or tiger-eye is a light-brown, brownish-yellow to dark-green, and greenish-blue quartz, which has the same chatoyant qualities as the cat's-eye. When cut cabochon, the crocidolite is called tiger-eye.

This beautiful mineral was very rare some years ago, and good specimens were sold by the carat.

Great quantities, however, have lately been found in South Africa, and although the finest pieces are still used for cameos and intaglios, many objects, such as paper-weights, umbrella handles, match-safes, etc., are now cut from this stone.

Crocidolite is often artificially colored to very closely imitate some of the finest shades of the oriental cat's-eye.

HELIOTROPE.

Heliotrope or blood-stone, as this variety is commonly called, is a dark-green quartz, translucent to opaque, and covered with small red spots or blood-colored blotches, from which the stone derives the name of blood-stone.

This stone has long been used for seal and signet purposes, and many fine intaglios and cameos carved in blood-stone are in existence.