Hematite is an iron-containing oxide, which is noted for its somewhat metallic appearance and extremely high density. Despite usually possessing a blackish, greyish and/or brownish body color, the mineral will leave behind a somewhat reddish streak when rubbed against an abrasive surface, and this allows it to be easily distinguished from its iron oxide polymorph, magnetite. In this red powdered form, hematite has been used throughout history as a paint pigment, with the mineral’s name having been derived from the Greek word for “blood”, haema.

Despite attaining significant levels of popularity as a gemstone throughout nineteenth-century Europe, hematite is rarely encountered within today’s marketplace. However, an artificial stimulant is known as “hematine” or “magnetic hematite” remains widely used in low-value costume jewelry, with this material easily identifiable by way of its magnetism – a property that is mostly lacking in genuine hematite.