Hematite contains 70% iron by weight, but smelting it into iron requires temperatures of around 1250°C and reducing agents like charcoal, which were absent in pre-Columbian America. The presence of red ocher suggests a ceremonial role, with its blood-like color possibly representing life, death, or spiritual transition, a theme common in ocher-using cultures worldwide, such as in Upper Paleolithic Europe. Some speculate that it may have masked decay odors or symbolically protected the dead, though evidence for this is anecdotal. Beyond burials, ocher might have been used to stain tools, pottery, and possibly even bodies as sunscreen or decoration, indicating its value in everyday life.

Adams County lies near the Hanging Rock Iron Region, rich in hematite and siderite. The Hanging Rock Iron Region, located in southeastern Ohio and encompassing parts of Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, and Jackson counties along the Ohio River, contains significant hematite deposits. Hematite, a reddish iron oxide with about 70% iron by weight, is commonly found as nodules, veins, or weathered outcrops, and is also the key ingredient in red ocher, which is highly valued for its vivid color.

This iron-rich mineral is abundant in the region, often exposed in sedimentary layers, making it easy to spot and collect. Siderite, an iron carbonate with about 48% iron, is also present but is less visually striking and typically weathers into hematite over time. Geological surveys, such as those conducted by the Ohio Division of Geological Survey, have documented rich iron ore beds in the Hanging Rock area, which were heavily mined in the 19th century. Prehistorically, surface outcrops or shallow veins of hematite would have been accessible without the need for deep quarrying. Adams County lies approximately 20-30 miles from the core deposits of the Hanging Rock Iron Region, with Serpent Mound being about 30-40 miles away from these prime iron sources.