mineral

Specular Hematite

Specularite (Iron Oxide, Fe2O3)

Hardness: 5.5-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Steel-gray to black with a bright metallic sparkle; Luster: Sub-metallic to metallic; Crystal structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: None (exhibits parting); Specific gravity: 5.26.

Hardness: 5
Color: Steel-gray to black with a bright metallic sparkle
Luster: Sub-metallic to metallic

Identified March 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in high-temperature hydrothermal veins or metamorphic environments where iron-rich fluids crystallize. It can also occur in banded iron formations (BIF) dating back billions of years to the Precambrian era.

Uses & applications

Primary ore of iron; also used in decorative jewelry (often marketed as 'Hematine'), pigments for paint, and as 'Earth's glitters' for collectors.

Geological facts

The name comes from 'speculum,' the Latin word for mirror, because its reflective flakes were once used as such. While the stone looks silver/black, if you rub it on unglazed porcelain, it leaves a distinctive reddish-brown streak.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its characteristic red-brown streak and the 'sparkly' appearance caused by thousands of tiny micaceous flakes. Commonly found in major iron-mining districts like the Lake Superior region (USA), Brazil, and South Africa.