Image: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
trigonalcommonSilicates
Bloodstone
SiO2
Bloodstone, also known as heliotrope, is a chert-like rock composed of cryptocrystalline quartz. It features a deep green base ('plasma') with distinctive spots, streaks, or patches of deep red ('jasper').
Bloodstone Physical Properties
Mohs Hardness
7Crystal System
trigonalLuster
waxyStreak Color
whiteCleavage
noneFracture
conchoidalSpecific Gravity
2.65Colors
deep green, deep redTransparency
translucentMineral Group
SilicatesUses
jewelry, carvings, ornamental stoneAssociated Minerals
Rarity
commonGeological Context
This variety of chalcedony forms as a secondary mineral in various geological settings, often in hydrothermal veins or as a component of sedimentary rocks, particularly those associated with volcanic activity.
