BIRTHSTONE FOR THE MARCH CHILD

Beryl-Schorl-257328 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

March has two birthstones – the aquamarine and the bloodstone.

What is Aquamarine?

Aquamarines come in deep blue to blue-green of different intensities, due to traces of iron in the beryl crystal. 

They are natural deep blue stones which are highly prized because they are rare and expensive.  

However, when heated, yellow beryl stones can change into blue aquamarines.

The aquamarine – also known as the “poor man’s diamond” – is a form of the mineral beryl It includes other gemstones such as the emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Beryl possesses four elements which are beryllium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. 

Beryl occurs as free six-sided crystals in rock veins and are shock resistant as well as durable in harsh weather like heat or cold which usually destroy gem deposits. It is quite a hard gem, ranking after the diamond, sapphire, ruby, alexandrite, and topaz.

Quality aquamarines comes from Brazil. High quality stones are also found in Colombia, the Ural Mountains of Russia, the island of Malagasy, and India.  In the United States, Colorado, Maine, and North Carolina are the best sources.

Beryl-Quartz-k-102a (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Origins and Mythical history

The name aquamarine  means sea water.  It was derived by the Romans as 'aqua means water and 'marine' means sea. And blue is the color of the sea water.  A mythical belief of the olden days is that Aquamarines were believed to have originated from the jewel caskets of sirens, washed ashore from the depths of the sea. 

Considered a sacred stone by Neptune, Roman god of the sea. This association with the sea made it the sailors’ gem, promising prosperous and safe voyages, as well as protection against perils and monsters of the sea. 

Its first documented use was by the Greeks between 480-300 BC. They wore aquamarine amulets engraved with Poseidon (the Greek god of the sea) on a chariot.

Beryls (Photo credit: Orbital Joe)

Aquamarine in the annals of history

Beginning in the Roman period, the aquamarine was believed to possess medicinal and healing powers, curing ailments of the stomach, liver, jaws, and throat. 

During the Middle Ages, it was believed to be an effective antidote against poison. Aquamarines were thought to be the source of power for soothsayers, who called it the “magic mirror,” and used it for telling fortunes and answering questions about the future. It is said that Emperor Nero used it as an eyeglass 2,000 years ago. 

Much later, aquamarines were used as glasses in Germany to correct shortsightedness. In fact, the German name for eyeglasses today is “brille,” derived from the mineral beryl.

Second Birthstone -Bloodstone

Aventurine
Photo Credit:Wikipedia

Bloodstone is the second birthstone for March.  It is also known as heliotrope and is a form of the abundant mineral quartz.  Specifically a cryptocrystalline quartz, it exists as a mass of tiny quartz crystals formed together in large lumps.  It does not show any external crystal form, but every component crystals that make up the mass is a genuine crystal. 

Another quartz variety is also called chalcedony. Green chalcedony that has flecks of red is known as bloodstone.  Bloodstone is usually found embedded in rocks, or as pebbles in riverbeds. India, Brazil, and Australia produce the best quality bloodstones.

Agate
Photo credit:Wikipedia

Religious Bloodstones

Bloodstones are often used to carve religious subjects, particularly the Crucifixion. One particularly famous carving was done by the Italian Matteo del Nassaro around 1525.

In “The Descent from the Cross,” the carving was delicately crafted so that the spots of red on the bloodstone appears to be the wounds of Christ and His drops of blood.   

Legend has it that the bloodstone was believed to have formed during the crucifixion of Christ .  When a Roman soldier-guard thrust his spear into Christ’s side, drops of blood fell on some pieces of dark green jasper lying at the foot of the cross, and the bloodstone was created.

Carnelian
Photo credit: Wikipedia

Bloodstones in the annals of ancient history

Babylonians used this stone to make seals and amulets, and it was also a favorite with Roman gladiators.  In the Middle Ages, bloodstone was believed to hold healing powers, particularly for stopping nosebleeds. 

Ancient Medicinal Value

Powdered and mixed with honey and white of egg, it was believed to cure tumors and stop all types of hemorrhage.  Ancient alchemists used it to treat blood disorders, including blood poisoning and the flow of blood from a wound.  Bloodstone was also believed to draw out the venom of snakes.

Chrysoprase
Photo credit:Wikipedia

Until my next post, Have An Awesome Day!