Image: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
trigonalcommonOxides
Hematite
Fe2O3
This specimen of hematite is dark, steel-gray to black with a strong metallic luster, exhibiting a platy or tabular habit with visible striations on its crystal faces.
Hematite Physical Properties
Mohs Hardness
6Crystal System
trigonalLuster
metallicStreak Color
reddish-brownCleavage
noneFracture
unevenSpecific Gravity
5.26Colors
black, steel-grayTransparency
opaqueType Locality
Cavradi Gorge, SwitzerlandMineral Group
OxidesUses
iron ore, pigment, jewelry, polishing agentAssociated Minerals
quartz, magnetite, goethite, limoniteRarity
commonGeological Context
Hematite forms in diverse geological settings, including sedimentary banded iron formations, hydrothermal veins, and as an accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks, often as a primary iron ore.
