Psilomelane,also known as black hematite.

Origin-: Named in 1758 from the Greek psilos – “smooth” and melas – “black.”

Color-: Variable from iron-black to bluish black to steel grey with grey pyrolusite bands.

Streak-: Brownish black.

Hardness-: 5-6 on the Mohs scale.

Diaphaneity-: Opaque.

Luminescence-: Non-fluorescent.

Luster– : Sub Metallic, Dull.

Occurrence-: Austinville, Wythe County, Virginia, Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Tucsons, Arizona, USA; Schneeberg, Germany; Cornwall, England; Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Metaphysical Properties-:

• Facilitates trance states and enhances awareness.
• It can assist one with self-analysis to reveal previously unrecognized thoughts and experiences.
• This in turn stimulates corrective action for emotional disturbances and over-emotional states.
• It can also be used to repair unwanted, unloving behaviour patterns.
• It is said to help change outmoded patterns of thinking and redirect your energies.