Hematite

Other names:

Specularite or bloodstone

Appearance:

Opaque; black, grey-black or brown/red

Common confusions......

Hematite can be easily confused with cassiterite.

Esoteric beliefs and associations...

With strong red colourations, it emphasises matters of blood: strength in battle, courage and passion. Stones containing strong traces of brown are often used for the healing of sick or injured animals. In folk lore, the obvious association of this stone with human blood led to it being used as a health-aid in cases of anaemia, along with Almandine (red garnet).

Other useful information...

The name, unsurprisingly, comes from the Greek for 'blood'. When cut, the coolant is red. The shiny crystals are often known as specularite (from the Latin for 'mirror').

Physical properties...

Chemistry	Iron oxide
System/Structure	Hexagonal (platy crystals)
Refractive Index	2.940 - 3.220
Specific Gravity	4.95 - 5.16
Mohs' Hardness	5.5 - 6.5