Bloodstone Jasper

Bloodstone Jasper, traditionally called bloodstone or heliotrope, is a dark green variety of chalcedony and jasper marked by vivid red or brownish-red spots caused by iron oxide (hematite). The combination of deep green and blood-red flecks gives it its dramatic name and centuries of symbolic meaning.

It is opaque, hard, and takes a fine polish, and the best material shows bright, well-distributed red spots against a uniform dark green ground.

Historically it was associated with the blood of Christ and was carved into amulets and seals; it remains the traditional birthstone variant for March and a popular men's signet stone.

Bloodstone Jasper forms when silica-rich fluids precipitate as microcrystalline quartz, with chlorite-group minerals and iron silicates providing the green base color. Pockets and inclusions of red iron oxide (hematite) create the characteristic blood-red spots.

It develops in volcanic and hydrothermal settings where mineral-laden solutions fill cavities and fractures, slowly hardening into dense, opaque stone.

Notable sources include India (the principal commercial supplier), Australia, Brazil, and parts of the United States and Europe.

Identify Bloodstone Jasper by its dark green body with distinct red or rust-colored spots, opacity, and hardness of 6.5-7; it scratches glass and resists a steel knife and shows a white streak.

The red flecks are iron oxide and remain fixed in the stone, distinguishing genuine bloodstone from dyed imitations where color may appear on the surface or in cracks. It differs from plain green jasper by the presence of the red markings.

Look-alikes include some heavily spotted green jaspers; true bloodstone has sharply defined red spots rather than diffuse coloring, and a waxy-to-glassy polished luster.

Bloodstone Jasper is used for signet rings, cabochons, beads, cameos, intaglios, and carvings, and is durable enough for daily-wear jewelry. It is a traditional March birthstone alternative and a classic stone for men's rings.

Its long symbolic history makes it popular for engraved seals and heirloom pieces.

Metaphysically it is associated with vitality, courage, circulation, and grounding, regarded by enthusiasts as a stone of strength and purification. These are spiritual beliefs, not medical or scientific facts.