Bloodstone (also called Heliotrope) is an opaque, dark-green, spotted variety of chalcedony with nodules of bright-red jasper that are scattered throughout stone. The presences of iron oxides in the green stone cause the spots of red; in smaller pieces of mineral the red does not appear. The characteristic red spots are what give the stone its name as they seem to resemble blood.
During the Middle Ages, bloodstone was greatly prized, as the bright-red spots were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ. The stone was attributed with special powers and used in sculptures representing flagellation and martyrdom. This mineral is considered an intense healing stone and a “stone of courage”, one that provides the revitalization of love, relationships, and friendships.
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