Get to know about the meaning, history and uses of the blood stone – Hematite, in this article.
Hematite is one of the most abundant forms of iron ore found on the planet. Its name is derived from the Greek word haimatites lithos which translates as “bloodlike stone.” It can be found in many parts of the world, and even in one of the most unlikely places — the night sky. The planet we call Mars gets its reddish hue due to the presence of fine grained hematite.
Hematite Highlights
- Hematite is an abundant iron ore found across the planet.
- It is found in sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks.
- Its pure composition is 70 percent iron and 30 percent oxygen.
- Fine-grained hematite gives Mars its reddish hue.
- Grounded up hematite was used by ancient cultures as a medium to create cave paintings.
- Hematite is believed to be so abundant because of its formation 2.45 billion years ago with the start of the Great Oxygenation Event.
- Hematite is often found with other minerals such as silica and shale.
- It can come in the form of a reddish to brown hue, grey to black, and silver.
- It can be found in many different forms such as crystal, fibrous, and micaceous.
- It is ideal for activating the Root (1st) and Solar Plexus (3rd) Chakras.
Occurrence of Hematite
Hematite is an iron oxide mineral and is commonly found in sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. It’s varied appearance makes it look earthier, submetallic and metallic. Even with this variance, it always has a reddish streak which allows geologists to identify it. In some cases, magnetite can be present in the rock, making it magnetic. Its main colors include reddish brown, black, gray, and silver. It also occurs in different forms like crystalline, fibrous, and micaceous to name a few.
Composition of Hematite
The basic composition of hematite in its pure form would be 70 percent iron and 30 percent oxygen — however, it is rarely found this way. Shale or silica can be found in layers with hematite. When this occurs, it is called banded iron formations.
The Great Oxygenation Event
The Great Oxygenation Event occurred about 2.45 billion years ago. The Earth’s oceans were rich with dissolved iron. When bacteria began conducting photosynthesis, this introduced oxygen into the ocean environments. The iron that was already present in the water now mixed with oxygen forming hematite with shale or silica, which sank to the bottom of the ocean to form banded iron formations. This went on for hundreds of millions of years, creating thick layers of hematite deposits.
Hematite Throughout History
Just like how hematite is used to create pigments today, ancient cultures used grounded hematite to form paints. They used this new medium to create many of the tantalizing cave paintings that archaeologists have discovered to date. Flashing forward to the Renaissance period, it would be an important element used to create paints for the creation of art. Today, it is mined and processed as an iron ore. It has found use in heavy media separation, radiation shielding, and ballast.
Uses and Benefits of Hematite
Spiritual Grounding and Balancing
Hematite is an ideal stone for helping one achieve spiritual grounding and balancing. It has an innate ability to connect us with the earth, which facilitates a greater sense of security. Furthermore, it is an ideal stone to carry for greater protection.
The Stone of the Mind
Although hematite gets its name for the presence of bloodlike colors in its hue, it is often called a stone of the mind. It promotes clarity in one’s thought processes, improving memory recall, focus, and concentration. If you work in a technical field that deals with logical thinking on a daily basis, hematite would be a great stone to carry to ensure that your mind is always primed for the task.
Benefits of Hematite
Hematite is believed to have certain healing properties that are related to the blood system. Hematite can help the one who suffers from anemia, and other blood disorders. Furthermore, it can help with the formation of new blood cells as well as helps with the production of blood within bone marrow.
Activating the 1st and the 3rd Chakras
Activating the 1st Chakra
With its natural ability to ground us, hematite can be used to activate the Root (1st) Chakra. It is located at the base of your spine, when this Chakra is balanced it allows us to acquire peace. Furthermore, it keeps us grounded in our human experience, and ensures that we do not travel too far away from this reality when we attempt to tap into the divine realm.
Activating the 3rd Chakra
The Solar Plexus (3rd) Chakra is centered upon our belly buttons and extends up to our ribcage. When this Chakra is balanced, we are able to make use of wisdom and act with our own personal power. This can help those who suffer from a lack of courage or who suffer from low self-esteem.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for entertainment and reference purposes only. It is based on centuries of folklore, most of which came about before the age of modern medicine. It is not meant as actual medical information. For advice about any of the illnesses listed, please visit a qualified physician.
