Judging quality
Real hematite is heavy, cold and leaves a rust-red line when scraped on unglazed porcelain. Magnetic 'hematite' beads are a manufactured ferrite composite, not the mineral.
Oxide
Hematite
Iron oxide with a metallic mirror surface and a signature red-brown streak. Botryoidal 'kidney ore' from Cumbria and iridescent rainbow hematite from Brazil are the collector forms.
Care
Will rust if left wet. Dry immediately after handling; avoid humidity.
History & lore
Ground hematite is the red ochre of prehistoric cave painting, used continuously for at least forty thousand years.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Hematite
- What is Hematite?
- Iron oxide with a metallic mirror surface and a signature red-brown streak. Botryoidal 'kidney ore' from Cumbria and iridescent rainbow hematite from Brazil are the collector forms.
- How hard is Hematite and what is it made of?
- Hematite is a Oxide-family mineral with the composition Fe2O3. It crystallizes in the trigonal system and rates 5-6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in silver, black, red.
- Where does Hematite come from?
- Notable localities for Hematite include Brazil, England (Cumbria), Morocco, USA (Michigan).
- How do you tell good Hematite from filler?
- Real hematite is heavy, cold and leaves a rust-red line when scraped on unglazed porcelain. Magnetic 'hematite' beads are a manufactured ferrite composite, not the mineral.
- How do you care for Hematite?
- Will rust if left wet. Dry immediately after handling; avoid humidity.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.