How Do You Spell HEMITROPE?

Pronunciation: [hˈɛmɪtɹˌə͡ʊp] (IPA)

Hemitrope is a mineralogical term that refers to a crystal that appears to be doubly terminated. The word is spelled H-E-M-I-T-R-O-P-E and is pronounced /ˈhɛmɪtrəʊp/. The "hemi" prefix means "half" and the "trope" root is derived from the Greek word tropos, which means "turn" or "direction". The IPA phonetic transcription of the word helps to highlight the emphasis on the second syllable and the pronunciation of the final "e". While the word may seem challenging to spell, it is common in the field of mineralogy.

HEMITROPE Meaning and Definition

1. Hemitrope is a term primarily used in mineralogy and crystallography to describe a unique type of twinning that occurs when two crystals grow together, forming an intergrowth characterized by a specific orientation relationship. It involves the twinning of two crystals that have related crystallographic structures but are oriented in mirror-image symmetry to each other.

   In a hemitrope, one crystal appears to penetrate the other along twinning planes or axes, resulting in a distinctive growth pattern with half of each crystal visible, while the other half is obscured. This intergrowth creates a symmetrical appearance when viewed from certain angles. Hemitropes are typically found in minerals that possess two or more twinning laws or exhibit polysynthetic twinning.

   The term "hemitrope" is derived from the Greek words "hemi" meaning half and "tropos" meaning turn, indicating the twinning pattern where only half of the constituent crystals are clearly visible. Hemitrope twins are often observed in complexly twinned minerals such as feldspars, pyroxenes, and garnets. Their presence can provide valuable insights into the growth conditions and post-crystallization deformations that occurred during the formation of these minerals.

   In summary, a hemitrope is a unique intergrowth of two crystals formed through twinning, where each crystal appears to partially penetrate the other along common twinning planes or axes, resulting in a symmetrical configuration with half of each crystal visible.

2. Half-turned.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for HEMITROPE

• gemitrope
• bemitrope
• nemitrope
• jemitrope
• uemitrope
• yemitrope
• hwmitrope
• hsmitrope
• hdmitrope
• hrmitrope
• h4mitrope
• h3mitrope
• henitrope
• hekitrope
• hejitrope
• hemutrope
• hemjtrope
• hemktrope
• hemotrope
• He-itrope

Etymology of HEMITROPE

The word "hemitrope" is derived from the Ancient Greek roots "hemi-" meaning "half" or "partial", and "tropos" meaning "turn" or "change". Together, they form "hemitrope", which literally translates to "half-turn" or "partial change". This term is commonly used in geology to describe a mineral specimen that exhibits a color change when rotated 180 degrees, revealing different hues or shades.

Plural form of HEMITROPE is HEMITROPES