Hematite

Hematite was an ornamental stone that was favored by fighters.

Description
When polished, hematite was a shiny gray-black stone. It was often tumbled to make beads or cut in a baguette fashion (rectangular with beveled sides).

Powers
Hematite was not magical itself, but it was responsive to enchantments related to blood and life force and was used in necromancy and the healing arts. Specifically, it was used to create magical periapts for healing and foul rotting. A typical stone had a base value of 10 gp.

Only a handful of people (mostly powerful mages that kept the secret to themselves) knew that this common stone was one of the "nine secrets"&mdash;minerals that could be enchanted to become ioun stones.

Trivia

 * Hematite was a common stone among the drow, a gem worn by drow of average station. They also used it often on enchanted items.
 * The lesser deity Iyachtu Xvim was known to occasionally send hematite gems to show favor or inspire his followers.
 * The lesser deity Vhaeraun was known to occasionally send hematite gems to show his favour or disfavour to his followers.