About Bloodstone

Properties

• Bloodstone is a soft stone. To protect the stone from scratches by harder stones or metals, it is suggested that you store the gem separately. Some chemicals and prolonged exposure to heat or bright sunlight can damage the stone's brilliance. The gem is made of silicon dioxide and it's green coloring comes from chlorite. The red spots of the bloodstone come from iron oxide. The stone can be polished to a high shine.

Sources

• The country with the largest source of bloodstone is India. It is mined from the Deccan Traps and then sent on to Cambay where the gem is cut into usable shapes and polished for sales. Bloodstone can also be found in western Scotland, Australia, Madagascar, Brazil, China and the United States. In 2009, bloodstone is not as widely available as it has been in the past.

Myths

• One myth of the bloodstone comes from Christianity. Early legend places the crucifixion of Jesus on a surface of jasper. According to the story, as the blood dripped from the cross it dotted the green jasper below it permanently and mystically changed the gem's properties forever. Later Christians would understand the bloodstone as a symbol of suffering and even flagellation.

Uses

• India regularly powders the gem and sells it as an aphrodisiac. It is also valued by some of the country's herbalists as a healing stone, although there is no science to support such claims. Bloodstone is not very expensive and is commonly used as a decorative knife handle. It has long been a popular material for seals, such as the the Martyr's Stone in the Louvre. Beads and necklaces are also carved from the soft stone of this gem.

Cuts

• On Moh's Scale of Hardness, this gemstone ranks between a 6.5 and 7. It can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular cuts of bloodstone are the round, oval and rectangle. It is recommended that bloodstone be cut in the cabochon style. The stone isn't faceted like many gems are. Instead, it is polished with a flat back and curved top. The flat side of the stone is often placed in some type of setting, such as gold or silver.