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Hematite Pendants
The color of hematite ranges from almost
black to silvery gray to blood red. It forms in series of crystalline plates
which build on each other, and often leaves a red streak if it is drawn across a
surface. One of the most famous forms of hematite is the lustrous silvery
gray form, which is frequently used for ornamental purposes. The name “hematite” comes from the reddish
color which emerges when hematite is powdered, and the
reddish tint which many forms of hematite have. The color
reminded some observers of blood, and the Greek root hema, for blood, was used to describe the stone.
In addition to being used as a source of pigments and pure iron, hematite is also used in
jewelry. The silvery gray form of hematite is most popular for
this purpose, as it can be polished to a pure sheen. Pure hematite is often used to make
simple rings and bracelets, and the stone is also turned into beads or set into
other pieces of jewelry. Some stone carvers also work with hematite to produce ornamental
carved pieces.
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Commercially cut 22x30 oval cabochon that I created an open-back pure sterling silver setting for. I really had a hard
time taking a good photo of this stone because of it's mirror-like finish. If you look closely at the photo you can see me
and the camera.
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