Bloodstone

Category

Quartz

Crystal Form

Trigonal

Moh's Scale Hardness

6.5–7.0

Specific Gravity

2.58–2.64

Refractive Index

1.53–1.54

Sources

Australia, Brazil, China, India, Kathiawar, United States, Peninsula, and Oregon.

Bloodstone is an opaque green stone with red spots. It also occurs in shades of dark green with red, brown and multicoloured spots. The iron minerals cause the deep red and brown colours. Bloodstone have a waxy or vitreous luster. It is opaqu and can be used for carvings and cameos.

Legend has it that when Christ was crucifie, the blood from his wound
dripped to the green jasper ground, spotting it red and thus forming the stone. Bloodstone is also known as heliotrope and was believed to have healing power.

Inclusions

Bloodstone does not have inclusions due to its structure. The particles of hornblend needles or chlorite that give it's green colouring and the presence of iron oxides that create it's red spots can be confused for inclusions, but they are part of the whole composition of the stone.

Caring

Protect bloodstone from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures.