Hematite

About Hematite

The primary ore of iron and the most abundant iron mineral on Earth. Its name comes from Greek haima (blood) because it leaves a red streak. Ancient Egyptians used it for amulets. Native Americans used ground hematite as red body paint. It is the mineral that makes Mars red. It can exhibit an iridescent rainbow tarnish called rainbow hematite. It is popular in jewelry as a metallic gray stone. It has been used as a pigment (red ochre) for 164,000 years - among the oldest evidence of human symbolic behavior. It is magnetic but not attracted to common magnets.