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Bloodstone, green jasper dotted with bright red
spots of iron oxide, was treasured in ancient
times and long served as the birthstone
for March.
This attractive chalcedony quartz is also known as Heliotrope
because in ancient times polished stones were described as
reflecting the sun: perhaps the appearance of the gem
reminded the ancients of the red setting sun reflected in
the ocean.
Medieval Christians often used bloodstone to carve scenes
of the crucifixion and martyrs, leading it to also be dubbed
martyr's stone. The legend of the origin of bloodstone says
that it was first formed when some drops of Christ's blood
fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. A
beautiful example of carved bloodstone with the seal of the
German Emperor Rudolf II can be seen at the Louvre
museum in Paris.
Even today, finely powdered bloodstone is used as a
medicine and aphrodisiac in India. Perhaps that explains
why today it is difficult to find fine specimens of bloodstone
on the market. Bloodstone is mined in India, Australia, and
the United States.
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