Hematite – Associated with the Root Chakra. Hematite is the mineral form of one of the types of iron oxides. It is determined as iron (III) oxide which has the chemical formula Fe2O3.

Hematite, found in banded iron formations. It can occur from volcanic activity. Although it is often found due to the precipitation of water. Where it can form in layers in standing water like springs or lakes.

When weathering processes occur in soil then clay-sized hematite crystals can occur. This can bring us the reddish streak of colour often found in older, weathered soils. The name Hematite derives from the Greek word blood which is a reference to the reddish streak that forms through weathering.

The ancient Greek name for Hematite termed it as a blood-red stone. This name was transposed to the Latin Lapis Haematites. Which in turn was taken up by Middle French which used the term Hématite Pierre.

Hematite was used as a pigment where it was taken from the hematite covered ochre clay. It was one of the earliest forms of writing pigment. Used as red chalk over 164,000 years ago in South Africa by the Pinnacle Point man.

Chalk mines were found in Poland dating back to 5000 BC. Also in old graveyards from up to 80,000 years ago. The mineral has also been referenced with the Linear Pottery Culture in the BC age, located at the Upper Rhine.

It was widely used in jewellery in the Victorian era and also in the craft of gilding as well as in other creative crafts.