While amethysts when heated become a bright deep yellow to brownish-red. Rose quartz is a semi-transparent to translucent stone that displays various tones and intensities of pink. In Victorian jewels aventurine quartz was often used to create life-like leaves, as in the shamrock brooch to the left. Agate was one of the earliest gemstones found in ancient jewels and artifacts. It was used as early as 3000 BC for ceremonial ax heads, bowls, cups, seals, and signet rings.
Agates display a variety of colors arranged in curved bands with various degrees of translucency.
Bloodstone, sometimes called heliotrope, is a dark green stone with reddish flecks. It was once believed to be an amulet that would stop bleeding. Several legends have existed to explain this gemstone's coloring. One attributes the red flecks to the blood of Christ. Another suggests that bloodstones are fallen bits of the sun and that they can be used to create thunder and lightning.