Hematite Archives - Cochise College Geology

Hematite

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Chemical Group: Oxide

Chemical Formula: Fe₂O₃

Color: Steel gray in crystal form. In earth or finely massive form it is a strong red

Streak: Red or reddish brown

Luster: Metallic to sub-metallic

Hardness: 5 to 6 Specific Gravity: 5.26 Fracture: Very brittle

Cleavage: None, but parting in two directions

Crystal Forms and Habits: Trigonal system. Hematite occurs in many forms: steel-gray metallic-looking crystals, specular hematite, kidney ore, oolitic hematite, stalactites

Identifying Characteristics: Hematite has a reddish brown streak.

Uses: Polishing compound (rouge), coloring pigment for bricks and tile, iron ore solid forms are used in jewelry

Occurrences: Lake Superior district, Clinton iron beds

Toxicity: When-swallowed: low When-inhaled: high

Additional Information: Hematite comes from the Greek word, haimat, meaning blood. Powdery or earthy hematite is known as red ochre. Rounded lumps of hematite are called Kidney ore. Martite refers to a crystal of magnetite that has been chemically altered to hematite.

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Photos

Hematite 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

hematite-banded-rough — Hematite - Banded - Rough

hematite-banded-flat — Hematite - Banded - Flat

hematite-botyroidal — Hematite - Botryoidal

hematite-botryoidal-sliman — Hematite - Botryoidal - Sliman

hematite-stalactitic — Hematite - Stalactitic

6hematite-villageoriginals — Hematite - Village Originals

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