Banded Iron Formation (BIF or Tiger Iron)

Origin: Karijini Gorge, Pilbara Region, Western Australia Mohs Hardness: 5.5-6 

Banded Iron Formation is an Archean Eon aged (about 3 billion years ago), rare and precious stone mainly composed of bands of Magnetite and Chalcedony. Some geologists suggest the “bands” formed annually with the changing seasons as photosynthetic organisms (blue-green algae aka cyanobacteria) were making oxygen on the ocean floor. It reacted with the iron dissolved in seawater to form iron oxide minerals thus creating banded iron formations. It records a time from the Earth's distant past when evolving life profoundly influenced the planet's evolution by generating oxygen, making our atmosphere breathable. However, it is also a reminder that the oxygen that is now in the Earth's atmosphere was not present in the beginning. Since those conditions no longer exist, BIF is the only mineral on Earth which can no longer reproduce, so once it is mined out, the only BIF remaining will exist strictly in private collections.   

Metaphysically, Banded Iron Formation is known as Genesis Stone. It grounds energies, protects the spirit, and manifests the will.