Bloodstone
Variety of chalcedony
Uncommon · SiO₂
Dark green chalcedony, coloured by chlorite or hornblende needles and spotted with red iron oxide. The red spots were historically interpreted as drops of blood. Used for carved seals and signet rings since antiquity.
Identity
- Formula
- SiO₂
- Chemical class
- Silicate
- Mineral group
- Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Citrine, Jasper, Moss Agate, Onyx, Quartz, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Tiger's Eye
- Also known as
- Heliotrope, Martyr's stone
- Used in alchemy
- Bloodstone Powder
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Habits
- Massive, Nodular
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 2.61 g/cm³
- Luster
- Waxy, Resinous
- Colors
- dark green, green, red, orange-red
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Translucent, Opaque
Geology
- Origins
- Sedimentary, Hydrothermal
- Host rocks
- Volcanic rock, River gravels and sands
- Associated minerals
- Chalcedony, Jasper, Quartz
- Found in
- Placer deposit
- Geography
- India, Brazil, Australia, USA
Classification
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- Life, Death
- Effects
- Healing, Warding
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
Sources
- Bloodstone. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Bloodstone (Heliotrope). Gemdat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Chalcedony. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Quartz. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
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