How to clean it
Dry or barely damp cloth. Can rust if left wet.
Metallic silver-grey to black
Hematite
Properties
Composition
Iron oxide (Fe₂O₃)
Hardness (Mohs)
5–6
Crystal system
Trigonal
Colour
Metallic silver-grey to black
Mined in
Brazil, UK, Canada, USA, Australia
Worth knowing
Metallic grey on the outside, blood-red as powder — hence the Greek haima, "blood". NASA named a Martian region after it, evidence of past water.
History
Ground into red ochre and used in cave painting at least 40,000 years ago.
Practical
Caring for Hematite
How to tell it is real
Magnetic hematite sold in shops is usually synthetic; natural hematite is only weakly magnetic. The reliable test is the streak: rub it on unglazed ceramic and it leaves a red-brown line.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Softer than household dust. Better in earrings or a pendant than in a ring, where it takes constant knocks.
Traditional associations
Hematite is traditionally linked to grounding, focus and physical steadiness. In chakra systems it is placed at the Root, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Earth.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Hematite made of?
Iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), crystallising in the trigonal system.
Where does Hematite come from?
Brazil, UK, Canada, USA, Australia.
How do I clean Hematite?
Dry or barely damp cloth. Can rust if left wet.
How can I tell if Hematite is real?
Magnetic hematite sold in shops is usually synthetic; natural hematite is only weakly magnetic. The reliable test is the streak: rub it on unglazed ceramic and it leaves a red-brown line.
Can I wear it every day?
At 5–6 on the Mohs scale, not in a ring. Keep it to pieces that take fewer knocks.