This History and Etymology of Moonstone and Bloodstone

People like gemstones, let's face it. And why shouldn't they? Gemstones are beautiful, rare, and let's not forget the very pretty penny that they cost. Most people who deal with gemstones know what they are called; however, not very many know why they are called what they are. The etymology of gems is something that is usually passed up when someone deals with them. However, there is the rare occasion when somebody needs to find out why a gem is given a specific name. This can be for a college paper or a business article, but regardless of what it is for, I am here to help. In this article I will explain, in great detail, the history behind the etymology of two famous stones. These are the moonstone and the bloodstone.

If you have any kind of business at all dealing with gemstones, then you probably have heard of the moonstone. The moonstone is one of the most common types of gemstone there is. It is usually made from feldspar, but it can also be made from the minerals adularia, plagioclase, and oligoclase. Moonstones get their name from the way light reflects and passes through them. It is a rare phenomenon called adularescence. This unique reaction to light reminded people of the light coming from the moon. Most moonstone is created when orthoclase and albite, two different types of feldspar, are fused together during the formation of the stone. This fusing causes them to wrap around each other in layers. When light hits the layers, it is scattered in a very unique way. Moonstone is mined in the Alps, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, the USA, and Tanzania. It is worth noting, however, that Sri Lanka produces moonstones of the finest quality.

In the ancient times, people became aware of a very special type of rock. This rock was later found to be a gemstone. It was green with red splatters on it. The red splatters were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ. Because the stone was supposedly imbued with the blood of Christ, it was thought to have special powers. Many years later, the red spots were found to be no more than deposits of red jasper. Because the stone was thought to have specks of blood on it, it was named bloodstone. Today bloodstone is a valuable mineral, being formed from a mixture of quartz and other compounds, and is classified as a gemstone. It is mined in the countries of China, India, and the USA, although India is the major source of the world's bloodstone trade.

Thank you sources:
www.gemselect.com
www.wikipedia.org