Bloodstone is a dark green gemstone dotted with bright red spots of iron oxide that look like drops of blood. It is a variety of Chalcedony, which is a species that has many varieties within it. Some of the other Chalcedony varieties include, jasper, agate, aventurine, and onyx, just to name a few.  Bloodstone has a long history, and is also known as heliotrope. The name heliotrope came from ancient times, where polished specimens were thought to resemble the setting sun over the ocean. Bloodstone is a gem that is most often cut into cabs, it has also been used for carvings, commonly the crucifix and martyrs, where it got one of its other names, the martyrs stone.

Origin

Bloodstone is found in India, Brazil, China, Australia, and the United States.

Properties, Treatments & Lab Created

Bloodstone is rated a 7 on the Mohs scale.

No known treatments of created forms of Bloodstone exist.