mineral

Tumbled Hematite

Hematite (Alpha-Fe2O3)

Hardness: 5.5-6.5; Color: Steel grey to black (streak is reddish-brown); Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Specific Gravity: 5.26.

Hardness: 5
Color: Steel grey to black (streak is reddish-brown)
Luster: Metallic

Identified July 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5.5-6.5; Color: Steel grey to black (streak is reddish-brown); Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Specific Gravity: 5.26.

Formation & geological history

Formed in an oxygen-rich environment through the weathering of iron minerals or precipitation from hydrothermal fluids in sedimentary basins. Most deposits date back to the Banded Iron Formations of the Precambrian era.

Uses & applications

Primary ore of iron; also used as a gemstone for jewelry, polishing abrasive (jeweler's rouge), and increasingly in grounding and protective aesthetic practices.

Geological facts

Hematite is notably found on Mars, giving the 'Red Planet' its distinctive color. While it appears black when polished, its streak on an unglazed porcelain plate is always a blood-red color, from which its name (Greek for 'blood') is derived.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unusually high weight (heft) and its red/brown streak. Common locations include Brazil, Australia, and the Lake Superior region of the USA.