Natural Hematite Ore of Iron
Rough hematite with a tabular crystal habit. This name is believed to come from 'tablet' because the shape of tabular crystals is thin and flat.
This hematite mineral, which comes from South Africa, has a metallic lustre. In our photos, we've used indirect light which has created a subtle sparkle.
Hematite, the mineral form of iron oxide, was named by Theophrastus (ancient Greek philosopher) 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 prefix 'haema', which means blood, is used in many medical terms. One example is haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that contains iron. Hemoglobin transports oxygen around the body.
Hematite can also be spelt haematite, pronounced 'heematite.'
