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Bloodstone
Facts, Information and Description
Bloodstone is the Mystical birthstone for February; Traditional & Ayurvedic birthstone for March, and the Zodiac birthstone for Pisces. Bloodstone does not have any associated Anniversaries.
Bloodstone is dark-green variety of the silica mineral Chalcedony that has nodules of bright-red jasper distributed throughout its mass. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, and from the resemblance of these to drops of blood it derives its name. Its physical properties are those of quartz.
Chalcedony and its named varieties are well represented in various birthstone charts and can be found for all the months except January, April, and November. It is also listed as a birthstone for all the Zodiac signs except Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio and Sagittarius.
The term chalcedony is derived from the name of the ancient Greek town Chalkedon in Asia Minor.
Chalcedony, which is found worldwide, is the name for a group of stones made of a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, which means the quartz crystals are too small to be seen without high magnification.
In jewelry usage, the name Chalcedony is usually applied only to the light blue translucent and waxy form. Other stones in this group are know as agate, jasper, petrified wood, bloodstone, petrified dinosaur bone, fire agate, tiger's eye, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, onyx, sardonyx, and carnelian.
Chalcedony is found in almost every color including: white, gray, black, brown, brownish red, orange, yellow, light to dark green, blue, lavender or, in the case of agates and jaspers, combinations of those colors. Bloodstone is found in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Kathiawar Peninsula and the USA (Wyoming).
Folklore, Legend and Healing Properties
In the Middle Ages, bloodstone was attributed special powers as the spots were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ. It was used in sculptures representing flagellation and martyrdom.
Native American Indians believed chalcedony was a sacred stone and used in the spiritual ceremonies of the tribe.
It is thought to increase vitality, stamina, and endurance and to promote emotional balance and charity while relieving melancholy, fever, gallstones, and eye problems.
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