Current:Home > StocksWhat is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems. -LegacyCapital
What is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems.
View
Date:2025-04-13 05:05:24
From St. Patrick's Day to Easter to the first day of spring, March hosts many celebrations throughout its 31 days.
March babies can bear one of two astrological signs: Pisces (born between March 1-20) or Aries (March 21-31). Two varieties of daffodil flowers also represent those born in March.
Each month has at least one gemstone. So, what about March's birthstone? It has two. Here's what to know about March birthstones, including their colors and symbolism.
March birthstone
Aquamarine and bloodstone are the two birthstones for March.
Aquamarine is a variety of beryl that ranges from pale blue to light green. The stone's name derives from the Latin "aqua" and "marina," meaning "seawater," according to the American Gem Society. Some faceted, or cut, aquamarines can be as clear as water.
This is not the only connection the gem has to the sea. Mariners once believed aquamarine could calm waves and protect sailors during their aquatic voyages, the Geological Institute of America reports.
The world's largest faceted aquamarine can be found at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The Dom Pedro aquamarine weighs approximately 4.6 pounds and was cut from a 100-pound stone in the late 1980s, Smithsonian Magazine reports.
The second largest cut of aquamarine belonged to former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was gifted the 1,298-carat, 2.86-pound gem by Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas in 1936, according to the International Gem Society. It is currently on display at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York.
Minas Gerais in Brazil has been a major producer of aquamarine for the last two centuries, the Geological Institute of America reports. Other mining spots include Pakistan, Madagascar, Myanmar, Ukraine, Colorado and California.
Aquamarine is believed to symbolize "purity of spirit and soul." It is said to bring happiness in marriage, according to the Geological Institute of America, and is a traditional gift for the nineteenth wedding anniversary.
Bloodstone is a variety of chalcedony, usually dark green with splotches of red hematite. The stone comes in two forms: transparent or opaque.
The name "bloodstone" has religious origins, with some believing the gem's pattern represents the blood of Jesus Christ, the Geological Institute of America reports. Its alternate name "heliotrope" derives from the ancient Greek for "to turn the sun." It was believed the stone, when placed in water, could turn the sun red, according to the American Gem Society.
Throughout history, bloodstone was associated with the Roman god of war, Mars. So, it is natural that the stone came to represent March, the month named after the god, the International Gem Society reports.
It was also believed that bloodstone would bring strength and health to those who wear it. Some see the birthstone as a good luck charm, according to the Geological Institute of America.
India is a prime source of bloodstone, but it can also be found in Brazil, Australia, China and the U.S., the Geological Institute of America reports.
What color is my birthstone?Learn which gemstone represents each month and what it means.
Want to learn more about other month's birthstones?
January | February | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "What are angel numbers?" to "What is my Zodiac sign?" to "How common is my birthday?"− we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.
veryGood! (9349)
Related
- Sonya Massey's family keeps eyes on 'full justice' one month after shooting
- Captivating drone footage shows whale enjoying feast of fish off New York coast
- Why Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman hope 'Deadpool & Wolverine' is a 'fastball of joy'
- Netanyahu meets with Biden and Harris to narrow gaps on a Gaza war cease-fire deal
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Woman pronounced dead, man airlifted after house explodes in upstate New York
- Maine attorney general files complaint against couple for racist harassment of neighbors
- American surfer Carissa Moore knows Tahiti’s ‘scary’ Olympic wave. Here’s how she prepared
- 2024 Olympics: Gymnast Ana Barbosu Taking Social Media Break After Scoring Controversy
- Cucumber recall for listeria risk grows to other veggies in more states and stores
Ranking
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Are schools asking too much for back-to-school shopping? Many parents say yes.
- Brooke Shields' Twinning Moment With Daughter Grier Deserves Endless Love
- Smuggled drugs killed 2 inmates at troubled South Carolina jail, sheriff says
- Tropical rains flood homes in an inland Georgia neighborhood for the second time since 2016
- 2024 Olympics: Team USA’s Stars Share How They Prepare for Their Gold Medal-Worthy Performances
- Screen time can be safer for your kids with these devices
- Olympians Are Putting Cardboard Beds to the Ultimate Test—But It's Not What You Think
Recommendation
Report: Lauri Markkanen signs 5-year, $238 million extension with Utah Jazz
Judge won’t block Georgia prosecutor disciplinary body that Democrats fear is aimed at Fani Willis
Missouri judges have overturned 2 murder convictions in recent weeks. Why did the AG fight freedom?
F1 driver Esteban Ocon to join American Haas team from next season
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Morial urges National Urban League allies to shore up DEI policies and destroy Project 2025
Four detainees stabbed during altercation at jail in downtown St. Louis
Why U.S. men's gymnastics team has best shot at an Olympic medal in more than a decade