Man has always strived for improvements in every field. Some discoveries were made thousands of years ago, and some have only been made recently. The use of Hematite, for instance, in jewelry dates back to the ancient Egyptians. They found this relatively common mineral and polished it by very primitive means and used it in ornaments and other decorations. Red Ochre, the red colored clay is based on this same mineral.

Hematite (sometimes spelled Heamatite) is a mineral form of Iron(III) Oxide. Its color varies from reddish brown to almost black. It received its name from the Greek word for blood “hema”, because the early discoveries of this mineral were red. Hematite is harder than pure iron but more brittle. Large deposits of hematite are found in banded iron formations, where water has stood for a long time and the minerals have precipitated out of the water and collected at the at the bottom of the waterway. It can also be found where volcanic activity has occurred.

High quality hematite is found in large quantities in England, Australia, Canada, Brazil and the Lake Superior region of the United States.

Currently, Hematite has two very different uses. Firstly it is the major source of iron in the world, making it a very important mineral in our society, and secondly it is used to produce a wide variety of both men’s and women’s jewelry.

Items include necklaces, bracelets, anklets, rings and almost anything that is worn as jewelry. There is also a magnetic series of jewelry, which are worn by people who believe they provide health benefits. This is largely unproven scientifically, but over 100 million people around the world believe the therapeutic properties of magnets.

Hematite has two characteristics that make it ideal for the manufacture of jewelry. Firstly, when polished it takes on a shiny surface and secondly it is relatively easy to work. (it is not very hard).

The quality of jewelry available varies greatly. Make sure that you are getting the quality that you expect.

Hematite jewelry is produced by many manufacturers throughout the world and the finished products does vary, due to the color variations. There is even a rainbow hematite found in Brazil.

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Author: For more information on hematite jewelry go to http://groovyideas.googlepages.com

Hematite - Fashion Jewelry