mineral

Botryoidal Hematite

Iron Oxide (Fe2O3)

Hardness: 5.5-6.5; Color: Steel-gray to black with reddish-brown streak; Luster: Metallic to submetallic; Crystal Structure: Trigonal, though forming in rounded 'botryoidal' (grape-like) masses; Specific Gravity: 5.26.

Hardness: 5
Color: Steel-gray to black with reddish-brown streak
Luster: Metallic to submetallic

Identified June 29, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins and through the oxidation of iron-rich sediments. It can occur in metamorphic rocks or as a precipitate in standing water. Common in Precambrian banded iron formations.

Uses & applications

Primary ore of iron. Used in jewelry as 'hematine', as a pigment (red ochre), for radiation shielding, and as a popular collector specimen due to its unique bubble-like shape.

Geological facts

The name comes from the Greek word 'haima', meaning blood, because it leaves a red streak when scratched. Hematite is also the reason for the reddish color of the planet Mars.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its heavy weight (high density), metallic sheen, and distinctive rounded/bumpy surface. A streak test on unglazed porcelain will always show a reddish-brown color regardless of the rock's black appearance.