Current:Home > NewsWhat is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems. -Wealth Empowerment Academy
What is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems.
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:41:22
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! (8)
Related
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Federal Hydrogen Program Is Cutting Out Local Groups, Threatening Climate Goals, Advocates Say
- How Dueling PDFs Explain a Fight Over the Future of the Grid
- Throw the Best Pool Party of the Summer with These Essentials: Floats, Games, Music, & More
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Climate-Smart Cowboys Hope Regenerative Cattle Ranching Can Heal the Land and Sequester Carbon
- Roundup Weedkiller Manufacturers to Pay $6.9 Million in False Advertising Settlement
- Inside Indiana’s ‘Advanced’ Plastics Recycling Plant: Dangerous Vapors, Oil Spills and Life-Threatening Fires
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Little Publicized but Treacherous, Methane From Coal Mines Upends the Lives of West Virginia Families
Ranking
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- SunZia Southwest Transmission Project Receives Final Federal Approval
- Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello Break Up After 7 Years of Marriage
- Wildfire Haze Adds To New York’s Climate Change Planning Needs
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Revisit Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello's Steamy Romance Before Their Break Up
- UN Considering Reforms to Limit Influence of Fossil Fuel Industry at Global Climate Talks
- North Texas Suburb Approves New Fracking Zone Near Homes and Schools
Recommendation
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Throw the Best Pool Party of the Summer with These Essentials: Floats, Games, Music, & More
As Youngkin Tries to Pull Virginia Out of RGGI, Experts Warn of Looming Consequences for Low-Income Residents and Threatened Communities
Q&A: The ‘Perfect, Polite Protester’ Reflects on Her Sit-in to Stop a Gas Compressor Outside Boston
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
RHONY's Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin Have Epic Reunion 13 Years After Feud
Today's Jill Martin Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Ariana Grande Spotted Without Wedding Ring at Wimbledon 2023 Amid Dalton Gomez Breakup