Metallic, massive, fascinating - Treasure of the month November
2 December 2019
Photo: UHH, RRZ/MCC, Mentz
Large hematite crystals with red garnet in the exhibition of the Mineralogical Museum.
Icy, the crystals glitter and sparkle in the light, reminiscent of a labyrinth of mirrors turned to stone. Although hematite is a very ordinary mineral, our treasure of the month November fascinates. In the LIB's Mineralogical Collection there are several such hematite crystals in many different colors, shapes and sizes. However, its special aesthetics and the unusual size of the crystals make the Treasure of the Month unique and an eye-catcher for mineralogists and visitors.
From South Africa to Hamburg
Our treasure has come a long way from the Kalahari manganese ore field in South Africa to the Mineralogical Museum! The Kalahari manganese ore field is considered one of the most famous mineral sites in the world. The hematite crystals were found there around the 1980s, passed on by a mineral dealer in Windhoek, Namibia, to another mineral lover and finally found their way to Hamburg.
No two are alike
Hematite is an iron ore, that is, a mineral from which iron can be extracted, and thus a very common raw material. The mineral has a variety of different appearances, sometimes it is more earthy and smeary, sometimes it is tiny little flakes, and often it is massive, metallic chunks. Each of the different appearances also has its own unique origin. Hematite is a fairly common mineral, occurring almost everywhere. It has even been detected on Mars.
The bloody metal
The name hematite is derived from the Greek word haima, which translated means "blood". Although the metallic shimmering blue-gray hematite crystal does not look particularly bloody at first glance, in powdered form the mineral shows a blood-red color. Already some prehistoric cave paintings, the body paintings of many primitive peoples or drawings of artists of our time were made with hematite. The pigments of hematite have good opacity, which is why the red color of the powdery mineral is well suited for painting.
Today, hematite is considered an industrial mineral, worn as a gemstone, or even used as a backing material on audio tapes.
More information
Mineralogical Collections