 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.
In jewellery manufacture, it
is commonly used for seals in signet rings.
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