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BLOODSTONE, a green agate containing red flecks
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VARIETY INFORMATION:
- VARIETY OF: Crypto-crystalline
Quartz, SiO2
- USES: Gemstone and ornamental stone.
- COLOR: mostly green with red inclusions
- HARDNESS: 7
- CLEAVAGE: none
- CRYSTAL SYSTEM: none visible (actual crystals are microscopic)
- For natural Bloodstone mineral specimens see our For Sale or Sold lists
Bloodstone is a green variety of
chalcedony
(cryptocrystalline quartz), containing red speckles. It is an impure
fine-grained quartz whose crystals are too small to see.
The red speckles in the green stone remind some people of drops of blood,
leading to a Christian use where bloodstone represents the blood of Jesus. The
stone has been used to carve scenes including the crucifixion, from whence came
the alternate name, "the martyr's stone". A second alternate name, heliotrope,
refers to the way some polished specimens reflect sunlight.
Bloodstone is the traditional birthstone
for March, the Zodiac birthstone for Aries, and an alternate for both Aquarius
and Pisces. It is associated with endurance.
Bloodstone is only one of several
chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz) varieties.
The primary varieties are as follows:
- Agate is a banded variety
(sometimes with translucent bands)
- Bloodstone is
green with red speckles
- Carnelian is yellow
to orange
- Chrysoprase is
green
- Flint is generally black
with a fibrous microscopic structure
- Jasper is any colorful
agate
- Onyx is black, white, or
alternating black and white
- Sard is yellow to brown
- Sardonyx is banded,
alternating sard and (usually white) onyx
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