Haematite

hematite found in the sahara desert, Marocco

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Just tumbled into minerals... This iron-based mineral hematite' is beautiful:  it can have the shape of a kidney, or a skull.  The Greek word 'aims' means 'blood'. In Dutch we call this stone 'glaskophematiet. 
Large ore bodies of hematite are usually of sedimentary origin; also found in high-grade ore bodies in metamorphic rocks due to contact metasomatism, and occasionally as a sublimate on igneous extrusive rocks ("lavas") as a result ov volcanic activity. It is also found coloring soils red all over the planet...
I have a small specimen in my studio: a present from my parents from when I was about 10 or so... my fascination for rocks and stones goes far back!

http://www.mindat.org/

Malachite is another , green and very common copper mineral, with a widely variable habit. Typically it is found as crystalline aggregates or crusts, banded in appearance. Until the 18th century, the malachite mineral wow used for its green color by painters...
For me it's all about the natural shape! Great stuff! Love it!