Hematite Intergrown Crystals

Three Hematite Crystals

Miniature hematite crystals from the N'Chwaning mine Northern Cape South Africa.

This mineral seems to be made up of one larger hematite crystal with a smaller crystal fused to each side.  Some secondary minerals are also present but I can't say for certain what they are. 

Hematite is an iron oxide first named by Theophrastus (ancient Greek philosopher and successor to Aristotle) around 300 BC. He named it 'haimatitēs lithos' meaning 'blood-red stone' which is believed to have come about because of its red streak.

The N'Chwaning mine is part of the Kalahari manganese field.  The area sits amongst well preserved 2.2 billion year old sedimentary rocks in the Northern Cape of South Africa.  It has produced some of the world's finest examples of hematite.