Bloodstone (heliotrope) from Bloodstone Hill, Isle of Rum

The mineral heliotrope is also known as bloodstone. It is a cryptocrystalline mixture of quartz that occurs as opaque green jasper with red inclusions of red hematite. The red inclusions may resemble spots of blood, hence the name bloodstone. The mineral was quarried at Bloodstone Hill in NW Rum in prehistoric times and used for tool making. It was widely traded in the region.

Bloodstone is found in a variety of forms in the Lavas of NW-Rum as amygdules (vesicle and cavity fills) and was quarried already during the Stone Ages for making tools as it has physical properties very similar to flint and it breaks usually with very sharp edges, making it a prolific material for arrow heads and small cutting tools. Flakes of Rum bloodstone have been found from Torridon to Ardnamurchan as well as locally in the Small Isles. Nomadic people at the time would probably have visited Rum temporarily for hunting and discovered Bloodstone Hill in the northwest of Rum. Once knowledge of the site existed, people would return to mine this valuable commodity.

VISIT BLOODSTONE HILL: http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Canna_Lava_Formation_in_north-west_Rum_-_an_excursion

See here for MORE Info on RUM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDR09HWW6ok
http://www.isleofrum.com/heritagehuman.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCID4uTCY60

More INFO on Bloodstone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliotrope_(mineral)
Amygdules: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdule

Видео Bloodstone (heliotrope) from Bloodstone Hill, Isle of Rum канала Val Troll's Volcano Channel