Bloodstone-Alternate March Birthstone

Bloodstone and aquamarine (see yesterday's post) are traditional birthstones of Pisces (Fish): Feb. 19 - March 20.

Bloodstone(heliotrope): Bloodstone is a stone with red spots which resemble drops of blood, so it is received its name due to this similarity.
Heliotrope derives its name from Greek words meaning sun and turning.

• Bloodstone is a green stone with red spots. It also occurs in shades of dark green with red, brown and multicolored spots. The iron minerals cause the deep red and brown colors.

• Bloodstone is dark-green variety of the silica mineral chalcedony that has nodules of bright-red jasper distributed throughout its mass. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, and from the resemblance of these to drops of blood it derives its name. Its physical properties are those of quartz.

Aquamarine-Is your Birthday in March?

Designing-Diva Jewelry has a gorgeous March birthstone necklace with faceted aquamarine rondelles.

Did you know? Derived from the Roman word "Aqua," meaning water, and "mare," meaning sea, this pale blue gem does indeed resemble the color of seawater.

Information on Aquamarine
Aquamarine is colored by trace amounts of iron in the crystal structure. Naturally occurring deep blue stones are the most prized because they are rare and expensive. However, most aquamarine gemstones are yellow beryl* stones that have been heated to change them to blue aquamarines.

(*Other gemstone color varieties that belong to the beryl family include emerald, morganite, and heliodor.)