How to clean it
Warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals, which dull the surface.
Dark green with red spots
Bloodstone
The birthstone for March.
Properties
Composition
Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz) with inclusions of red iron oxide
Hardness (Mohs)
6.5–7
Crystal system
Trigonal
Colour
Dark green with red spots
Mined in
India, Brazil, Australia, Scotland
Worth knowing
The red spots are iron oxide, not blood — but the resemblance drove nearly all of its folklore.
History
Known to the Romans as heliotrope; the red flecks gave rise to medieval Christian legend.
Practical
Caring for Bloodstone
How to tell it is real
Dyed jasper is sold as bloodstone. Genuine bloodstone has irregular, uneven red flecks; dyed material shows colour concentrated in cracks.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Softer than household dust. Better in earrings or a pendant than in a ring, where it takes constant knocks.
Traditional associations
Bloodstone is traditionally carried for courage and endurance, particularly by athletes and soldiers. In chakra systems it is placed at the Root, Heart, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Earth.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Bloodstone made of?
Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz) with inclusions of red iron oxide, crystallising in the trigonal system.
Which month is Bloodstone the birthstone for?
March.
Where does Bloodstone come from?
India, Brazil, Australia, Scotland.
How do I clean Bloodstone?
Warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals, which dull the surface.
How can I tell if Bloodstone is real?
Dyed jasper is sold as bloodstone. Genuine bloodstone has irregular, uneven red flecks; dyed material shows colour concentrated in cracks.
Can I wear it every day?
At 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, not in a ring. Keep it to pieces that take fewer knocks.