The facts
What hematite actually is
Hematite is classified as iron oxide, with the composition Fe₂O₃. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from iron — metallic lustre, red streak, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 2.94–3.22. Specific gravity around 5.12–5.28. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where hematite comes from
Hematite is produced at Minas Gerais, Brazil, England, Morocco and USA.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How hematite is treated
"Magnetic hematite" sold in shops is almost always a synthetic ferrite — real hematite is barely magnetic.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What hematite is confused with
In the trade hematite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Synthetic hematine, Magnetite or Black spinel.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.94–3.22 and specific gravity 5.12–5.28 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What hematite is used for
Demand for hematite comes from jewellery, pigments, decorative objects and wellness and body care, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the tonne or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What hematite costs
As a guide, hematite trades around $0.10–3/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is hematite treated, and how?
"Magnetic hematite" sold in shops is almost always a synthetic ferrite — real hematite is barely magnetic.
Where does hematite come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, England, Morocco and USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is hematite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does hematite cost?
Indicatively $0.10–3/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is hematite confused with?
Most often Synthetic hematine, Magnetite and Black spinel. A refractive index of 2.94–3.22 and a specific gravity near 5.12–5.28 separate it quickly.
What is hematite used for besides jewellery?
pigments, decorative objects and wellness and body care. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for hematite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about hematite