Bloodstone (Heliotrope)

Big Photo

Madagascar
931.99 carats
© gemselect.com

Bloodstone is an opaque, dark-green Chalcedony with red spots. An old name still used in Europe is heliotrope (Greek - sun turner). Used often as seals for men's rings and for other ornamental objects.

In the trade, the term blood jasper is sometimes used. Bloodstone, however, is not a jasper at all, even though a radial structure with spherical aggregates can simulate a grainy appearance.

Bloodstone Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 

Bloodstone Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Bloodstone gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:3.9 cts
Heaviest:931.99 cts
Average:84.32 cts
Total photos:22
Do you have a larger Bloodstone? Why not upload a photo?
3.90ct to 96.71ct96.71ct to 189.52ct189.52ct to 282.33ct282.33ct to 375.14ct375.14ct to 467.95ct467.95ct to 560.75ct560.75ct to 653.56ct653.56ct to 746.37ct746.37ct to 839.18ct839.18ct to 931.99ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Chalcedony, which is a variety of Quartz
Other Names/Trade Names:
Chemical Formula
SiO
 
2
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Photos of natural/un-cut material from mindat.org
Physical Properties of Bloodstone
Mohs Hardness6.5 to 7
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Specific Gravity2.55 to 2.70
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Optical Properties of Bloodstone
Refractive Index1.530 to 1.543
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Optical CharacterUniaxial/+
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Birefringence0.003 to 0.009
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Colour
Colour (General)Dark green/greenish-blue with small red blood-like spots
Gemdat.org, Management Team (2012)
Causes of ColourParticles of chlorite or included hornblende needles cause the green color. Red spots are caused by iron oxide.
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
TransparencyTranslucent,Opaque
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Semi-transparent to opaque
LustreWaxy,Resinous
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Crystallography of Bloodstone
Crystal SystemTrigonal
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
HabitFibrous to grained aggregate
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Further Information
Mineral information:Bloodstone information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
USA
 
  • California
    • Inyo County
      • Amargosa Range
        • Black Mountains
          • Jubilee Pass
Symons, Henry Heilbronner (1940), Quartz gem stones of California: Rocks & Minerals: 15: 41; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 317.
    • Siskiyou County
      • Bogus Mountain
Symons, Henry Heilbronner (1940), Quartz gem stones of California: Rocks & Minerals: 15: 41; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 318.
      • Klamath Mountains
        • Cinnabar Camp
U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
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