COLOUR
Steel-Grey, Red, Brown
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
Trigonal
SOURCES
United Kingdom, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Germany and the Czech Republic
Introduction
From the Greek haimatitis, meaning blood-red, hematite owes its name to the deep red of its powdered state, which resembles dried blood.
Origin & Supply
Hematite is thought to be one of first stones ever to be mined. It was used in amulets as well as being a cosmetic and paint pigment. The bones of Neolithic burials have been found coated with powdered hematite, and there are burial sites in China dating back to the 10th millennium BC, which have been decorated with the gemstone.
Geology Leasson
Major deposits of hematite are often found in banded iron formations, while grey hematite is usually found near standing water, hot mineral springs or close to where volcanic activity has occurred.
Hocus Pocus
Historically, hematite was thought to protect its wearer from bleeding. Nowadays, crystal healers use hematite for blood disorders, leg cramps and insomnia. Others believe the stone has calming properties that ground the mind.