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from the Antique Jewelry University

Bloodstone is a polycrystalline variety of chalcedony (quartz). It has a dark green hue with red or orangy patches dispersed throughout the stone, caused by iron oxide. This gemstone is very tough and hence very suitable for glyptographs as seals, cameos and intaglios. This gemstone is also known under the names heliotrope and blood jasper. There is sometimes some confusion with the name bloodstone and the mineral hematite, this is due to the German name blutstein which is given to hematite. In the English language bloodstone indicates this jasper with "sprinkled" red or orangy specks.

India and Russia (Ural mountain range) are the main producers of fine quality bloodstones.

This gem's name heliotrope is derived from the Greek words for "sun" and "turning". The ancient historian Damigeron states, "Now, if it is put in a silver basin full of water and placed against the sun, it turns to it and makes it as if bloody and cloudy."^[1]. During medieval times Christians believed that the red spots came from the blood of Jesus Christ, his blood trickled down on a a piece of green jasper when he was hung on his cross. Many Christian cameos and intaglios, as well as sculptures, were created from bloodstone with martyrs and crosses to commemorate this.

In early Christian times it was believed that life expectancy could be prolonged when wearing a bloodstone, while becoming more courageous and wealthy. Other credits given to bloodstone are the powers to avert disaster, stimulate the clotting of blood after injury and to open (prison) doors. The clotting of blood attribute of this gem made it a talisman against nosebleeds, for both the wearers as to their neighbors. Due to the attribute of courage, bloodstone is a hero's gemstone.

Other metaphysical attributes given to bloodstone are to become more altruistic and to bring out natural talents. Bloodstones are related to the navel, base, sacral and heart chakras.

The alternative birthstone for the month March is a bloodstone, with the Pisces zodiac sign.

Gemological information for bloodstone
Color	Green with red and/or orangy patches
Crystal structure	Polycrystalline (trigonal)
Refractive index	ca. 1.54
Family	Quartz (chalcedony)
Durability	Excellent
Hardness	6.5-7
Similar stones	There are no similants known
Treatments	None
Country of origin	India, Australia, Russia And The United States
Bloodstone care
Ultrasonic cleaning	Not safe
Steam cleaning	Not safe
Warm soapy water	May remove polish
Chemical attack	Will damage the stone
Light sensitivity	Will damage the stone
Heat sensitivity	Will damage the stone

Notes

Sources Consulted

• Knuth, Bruce G. Gems in Myth, Legend and Lore, Jewelers Press: Parachute, 2007