Hematite which is the mineral form of iron, is also sometimes spelt as Haematite. Its colour can be black to steel or silver-grey, brown to reddish brown or even red. It is harder than pure iron but much more brittle and its name comes from the Greek word for 'blood', since it is sometimes red. The word shares its root with the word 'hemoglobin' which is the oxygen-transporting molecule in red blood cells, the iron of which causes blood to be red.
NASA's Mars Rover discovered small spheres (blueberries) on Mars which are believed to be made partly or mostly of Hematite. The spheres were only a few millimetres in diameter and are believed to have formed as rock deposits under watery conditions billions of years ago when Mars was a wetter world. The rover used one of its instruments to test the spheres' iron content which were then unequivocally identified as being Hematite. Martian soil is full of iron-bearing compounds that over millions of years have reacted with trace amounts of oxygen and water vapour in Mars' atmosphere to form iron oxide, the same chemical that covers innumerable rusty nails in garages and workshops on Earth.
As well as being used as a gemstone, Hematite was also used in art created by the Native American Indians and it was also part of the hippie movement of the 1960's.
Crystal healers associate Hematite with blood and use it in their rituals for treating blood related illnesses such as haemophilia, anaemia, heart, kidney and liver diseases, cardio-vascular weakness, menstrual cramps and nose bleeds. They also recommend it for use in treating the stress of jet lag, birth and surgery, tumours, insomnia, leg cramps, nervous disorders and fevers. Native American Indian's used Hematite as a remedy for dental problems, spots, mouth ulcers and alcohol abuse. Mentally it is credited with the ability to bring about a calm mental state, improve memory, mental focus and concentration, bolster self-confidence and increase the effectiveness of logical processes of the brain. Considered by followers of the New Age to be an excellent gemstone for treating mental stress, Hematite has a reputation for helping people bring order to mentally chaotic situations by drawing tension out of the body, neutralizing negativity and releasing anger. They also recognize its power for increasing mental function, mathematical processes, logic, creativity and mental dexterity. Hematite is an excellent aid in meditation and can tune the consciousness and increase pathways that lead to inner knowledge. It is considered to be one of the most grounding and stabilizing of all gemstones capable of dissolving negativity and is very useful for creating peaceful, loving relationships.
Hematite can be found in England, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the Lake Superior region of the USA and is graded 5.5 to 6.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness
Further reading:
Hematite
Hematite
Our collection of Hematite jewellery
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