Current:Home > MarketsWhat is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems. -NextFrontier Finance
What is the birthstone for March? There's actually 2. Get to know the spring month's gems.
View
Date:2025-04-12 02:17:24
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! (86181)
Related
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Holly Madison Reveals Why Girls Next Door Is Triggering to Her
- Some 500 migrants depart northern Honduras in a bid to reach the US by caravan
- Endangered Whale ‘Likely to Die’ After Suspected Vessel Strike. Proposed NOAA Rules Could Prevent Future Collisions, Scientists Say
- $1 Frostys: Wendy's celebrates end of summer with sweet deal
- Mourners fill church to remember the Iowa principal who risked life to save kids in school shooting
- 'Manic cleaning' videos are all over TikTok, but there's a big problem with the trend
- Alabama five-star freshman quarterback Julian Sayin enters transfer portal
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Indignant Donald Trump pouts and rips civil fraud lawsuit in newly released deposition video
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Cancels Austria Concerts After Confirmation of Planned Terrorist Attack
- Grand jury seated Friday to consider criminal charges against officers in Uvalde school shooting
- Caffeine in Panera's Charged Lemonade blamed for 'permanent' heart problems in third lawsuit
- Emily in Paris star Ashley Park reveals she went into critical septic shock while on vacation
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- AC Milan goalkeeper Maignan walks off field after racist chants. Game at Udinese suspended briefly
- Sundance Film Festival turns 40
- At least 18 dead in a shelling of a market in Russian-occupied Ukraine, officials report
Recommendation
$1 Frostys: Wendy's celebrates end of summer with sweet deal
Iran launches satellite that is part of a Western-criticized program as regional tensions spike
Biden signs short-term government funding bill, averting a shutdown
Why Jacob Elordi Is Worried About Returning for Euphoria Season 3
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
Ohio State lands Caleb Downs, the top-ranked player in transfer portal who left Alabama
Roxanna Asgarian’s ‘We Were Once a Family’ and Amanda Peters’ ‘The Berry Pickers’ win library medals
Family sues Atlanta cop, chief and city after officer used Taser on deacon who later died