Background * History
- Heliotrope or Bloodstone is an opaque to translucent variety of Chalcedony Quartz. Bloodstone is characterized by its dark green color with the presence of red, blood-like inclusions, which is how it earned its descriptive gemstone name. It is also known as Blood Jasper. Heliotrope’s green color is a result of dense inclusions composed of Chlorite or Hornblende needles. Color ranges from various shades of light to dark green. Blood-like inclusions are owed to the presence of Iron Oxide impurities and can range from red to brownish in color. Some stones may display yellow spotting. Heliotrope’s level of ‘blood’ inclusions vary tremendously. Some may exhibit little to no spotting, while others are very densely spotted. Droplet-shaped blood spots are more desirable than streaks. Heliotrope is a variety of Quartz and has excellent hardness. There are not many other materials capable of scratching Heliotrope. A simple scratch test can often distinguish Heliotrope from imitations. Heliotrope is composed of Silicon Dioxide and it has a trigonal crystal structure made up of Microcrystalline Aggregates. It can sometimes be confused with Jasper, but because Jasper has a much more grainy composition, they can be easily distinguished from one another. Heliotrope dates back through historical and ancient times. The trade name of ‘Heliotrope’ originated from the belief that gemstones were once thought to reflect the sun, derived from Greek words that refer to ‘the turning sun’. Heliotrope is also mentioned in Boccaccio’s stories in the Book of Prince Galehaut, known as the ‘Decameron’.
Healing * Metaphysical Properties
- pain, hemorrhages, stomach, intestinal and bowel problems, blood, blood circulation, protection, intuition, creativity, negative energy, electromagnetic stress, dreaming, courage, selflessness, idealism, confusion, cancer, leukemia, anemia…
**Please note that all metaphysical or healing properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat medical conditions. Moirai.si does not guarantee the validity of any of these statements.
Gemological Properties
| Chemical Composition | SiO2 |
| Color | Green, apple-green, greenish-blue, brown with red spots |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 6.5 to 7 |
| Specific Gravity | 2.58 to 2.64 |
| Refractive Index | 1.530 to 1.540 |
Origin and Gemstone Sources
- India, Madagascar, California, USA, Australia, Germany, Brazil, China and Scotland.
Care
- Heliotrope can be cleaned easily with warm water and a mild soap or detergent. It can be wiped with a soft cloth or brush. Always rinse your gemstones and jewelry well to remove soapy residue. Too many surface scratches will cause loss of polish and luster, affecting the overall beauty of Heliotrope.
- When storing gemstones or gemstone jewelry, store them inside a fabric-lined box or wrapped in a soft cloth separately from other type of gemstones to prevent damage or scratches.
- It is best to remove any jewelry before engaging in any strenuous physical activity, such as exercise or sports
- Avoid spraying perfume or hairspray on your precious gems.
Zodiac
- Aries, Pisces, Scorpio