mineral

Hematite

Iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3)

Hardness: 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Color: Dark steel-gray, silver, reddish-brown, or black. Luster: Metallic to submetallic or earthy. Crystal System: Trigonal. Cleavage: None, exhibits uneven to conchoidal fracture. Specific Gravity: 5.26.

Hardness: 5
Color: Dark steel-gray, silver, reddish-brown, or black
Luster: Metallic to submetallic or earthy

Identified August 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in a variety of environments, notably hydrothermal veins, sedimentary beds, and as an alteration product of other iron-bearing minerals. Can range in geological age from Precambrian banded iron formations billions of years old to modern deposits.

Uses & applications

Primary ore of iron; used in heavy media separation, radiation shielding, pigment production, and occasionally polished for jewelry and ornamental carvings.

Geological facts

Hematite leaves a distinctive reddish-brown streak when scratched across unglazed porcelain, a key diagnostic test that sets it apart from other dark metallic minerals like magnetite.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its heavy weight for its size, reddish-brown streak, and lack of strong magnetism. Found worldwide, with major deposits in Australia, Brazil, China, and the United States (Lake Superior region).