Great South Gems & Minerals

• Hematite, Tubular •
(Virginia, USA)

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• Hematite, Tubular •
(Virginia, USA)

Iron Oxide - hematite crystals - haima - Indian paint pots

An unusual tubular formation of Hematite. An Iron Oxide. Hardness 5-6. These specimens are black in color. Hematite can be found is a range of colors; black, gray to silver, brown to reddish brown, and red. Some specimens are iridescent.

Hematite is the principal ore of iron. Huge quantities are mined yearly for industrial production. Hematite is the source of roughly 90 percent of all iron production in the United States. Well formed hematite crystals are most popular with rock collectors. Some forms of hematite is cut and polished into gemstones and beads for jewelry and ornaments. Hematite in some forms is referred to as "Red Iron Ore". The varieties of Hematite are: Bloodstone, Iron Rose, Kidney Ore, Martite, Paint Ore, Specularite, Rainbow Hematite, the iridescent variety, and Titano-hematite. Hematite is harder than pure iron, but much more brittle.

Georgia is known for having many areas of red clay or red sandstone. This color is caused by hematite in the soil giving it the red/rust color.

The name hematite is derived from the Greek word for blood (haima) because hematite can be red, as in rouge, a powdered form of hematite. The color of hematite lends it well in use as a pigment. Hematite can precipitate out of water and collect in layers at the bottom of a lake, spring, or other standing water. Hematite can also occur without water, however, usually as the result of volcanic activity.

In South Georgia I have found many small, round, iron nodules of hematite. When broken open many have a very fine powdery hematite inside. Lick the end of your finger and touch into this powdery hematite and it makes your finger absolutely blood. I was told that these are called "Indian paint pots", and that the Indians used them in making paint for their pottery, for their clothing, their lodges, their horses, and for war-paint.

These specimens were collected in Virginia, USA.

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