HEMATITE.
Little Black Dress
Hematite may seem innocuous but it's quite a sexy little mineral. It’s the little black dress of the crystal world, always in fashion, and works for almost every occasion. It’s the ice in your whiskey, bringing both coolness and warmth, reinvigorating energy flows and getting those Chakras spinning. It is a very grounded crystal, if you are in the market for some astral projection or quantum jumping then this stone helps you keep one foot back on terra firma. Hematite is known in metaphysical terms for its ability to scoop up and absorb negative energy, keeping your hard-earned positive energy safe. For those requiring focus, Hematite is also used to clarify and enhance concentration. If you suffer from the occasional panic attack, I find that Hematite is useful in physical cooling which in turn can help you regain your equilibrium. Apply to the Third Eye or pulse points for the best effect.
Hematite isn’t just the tumbled black silvery mineral you see in every spiritual store, it comes in a large variety of forms. Generally, it develops in a “massive” habitat, which can be up to 300m thick! But it can also grow in botryoidal form, my personal favourite, in black/silver or dark kidney red often referred to as Kidney Ore. It can be tabular, fibrous, granular, pyramidal (never seen), and sometimes even as an iron rose or stalactite. There is also a form of Hematite called Spectacularite, which when polished (and usually a resin coating applied) you can see its internal sparkles. NASA has even found evidence of it on Mars in the Meridiani Planum plain, the Hematite shaped into pebbles suggesting the one-time presence of water on the planet. In Earthbound terms, Hematite is found globally but the main mined deposits are in Brazil, Venezuela, North America, Canada, the UK, and Europe.
Botryoidal Hematite
Fibrous Hematite
Iron Rose/ Hematite Rose, Furkahorn, Switzerland.
Crystalized Hematite from Livorno, Elba, Tuscany, Italy.
© Smithsonian
Botryoidal Hematite from Alston Moor, Cumbria, UK.
© Smithsonian
Much Hematite is kidney red coloured and thus the name Hematite originally derives from αἷμα, haima, the Greek word for blood, eventually coming to mean blood-red stone. It has been used throughout history for amulets, jewellery, and totems.
Hematite head-rest amulet from the late period 525-332 BCE, Egypt.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Hematite and Gold Cowroid Inscribed with an Ankh, New Kingdom, ca. 1492–1473 B.C., Egypt.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Fake Hematite
I have seen A LOT of fake Hematite coming out of China in recent years. This generally looks much more silvery, dull aluminium colour than real Hematite which is a black-grey silver colour. But the real tell is the feel. Hematite when held feels heavier than it looks as it has a dense mass, a bit like an iron meteorite, real Hematite is also very cold to the touch. This of course is easy to do when you are buying in person, but harder when you are buying online. I think the fakes are made with a metal alloy, but without testing it is hard to know for sure, so they will feel cool, but not as ice cold as Hematite, or as heavy.
Magnetic Hematite is not real Hematite, it is a synthetic material known as Hematine. There is some heated debate about what Hematine or “Magnetic Hematite,” is made from, people claim it does contain some Hematite while sample testing has suggested it is a barium-strontium ferrite.
You will see both Hematite and Magnetic Hematite covered in rainbows a bit like oil and called Aura, this is not natural. It is a metallic “aura” coating which has been applied and then heated to bond it to the surface of the mineral.
Buyer’s Guide to Hematite
Private Buyers
When I am buying Hematite for myself or a gift I tend to have three directions; spiritual, panic attacks, or specimen.
Spiritual buyers: a tumble kept in a pocket keeps those negative vibes away and gaining focus, for meditation and realm work something a little larger such as a palm stone works best.
Panic attacks: a flat disc of Hematite, preferably with rounded edges is ideal to carry with you, it’s not too heavy (as a palm stone) but the larger flat surface gives you more skin contact for rapid cooling.
Specimen collectors: my personal fave is a shiny botryoidal form (Kidney ore) of the black-silvery variety. I love seeing the “bubbles” and cross-sections of how they have grown. You can also still buy large natural pieces at a reasonable price. For those looking for an especially clean, rare, thumbnail specimen then an Iron Rose or a crystalized formation is the best. Some top-quality crystalized pieces are coming out of South Africa right now.
As always when you are buying check for damage. Tumbles, palm stones, spheres, and carved figures are faked the most so remember to double-check that it is real.
Retail Buyers
Hematite is a pretty solid seller for retailers, with a steady demand, and little fashion fluctuations. You would be safe stocking up on Hematite tumbles, discs or palm stones. The natural botryoidal form always sold well for us on Instagram Live sales but it does get a bit lost on the shop floor.
However, be very careful if you are buying from China, there is so much fake out there that even the local Chinese wholesale dealers don’t always realize it’s fake. If you are buying from China always pay with Paypal so you can try to claim your money back should it turn out to be fake once you receive it. My experience was that most faked items were tumbles, palm stones, spheres, and carved figures. To be honest on this one it would be safer to buy from your trusted local wholesaler.
Quick Guide | Hematite
Zodiac: Hematite is associated with the zodiac sign Aries.
Ruling Planet: The ruling planet for Hematite is Mars.
Chakra: Hematite is associated with the Root (Muladhara) Chakra.
Element: Hematite is aligned with the element Earth.
Crystal Charging: Hematite can be charged overnight under a Full Moon. You can discharge any built-up energy by placing it on the ground. It is partial to Selenite so popping it in a Selenite bowl will keep it feeling chilled and happy.
Crystal Elixir: Hematite is a form of iron oxide, iron generally isn’t that happy with water and will rust. You can give it a quick dunk in the water (it isn’t soluble) to make a crystal elixir but take care to dry it very thoroughly afterwards to avoid any damage to the crystal..
Crystal Care: Hematite is a hardy mineral so you can clean it with a soft cloth, air duster, or a brush. If it’s very dirty then you can give it a quick wash in lukewarm water but you must make sure it dries fast and thoroughly to avoid rusting and therefore damage to the crystal.
The chemical formula for Hematite: Fe₂O₃