Hematite
On my last trip to Turkey, I visited Cappadoccia. On the central plain of Anatolia, we stopped at a gemstone sales place. It was amazing. A huge variety of gems could be seen in all stages: rough cut, polished and set into completed jewellery.
I found the black hematite arresting. It evoked high school days, and the craze for what we called Alaska black diamond.
Hematite, with its high iron content, is magnetic, and because of this is said to relieve migraines, and help with arthritic pain.
My hostess had just bought me a small slit-weave carpet. When I learned she suffered from headaches and saw her eying the hematite necklaces, I decided to reciprocate by getting her one.