Name/Title
HematiteEntry/Object ID
LN2012.1.18Description
Assemblage Zone: pegmatite dikes
Chemical Composition: Fe2O3, Iron Oxide
Crystal System: Hexagonal System
Description: Common Name: Hematite
Group Name: Hematite
Chemistry: Fe2O3, Iron Oxide
Location: unknown
Description: Multi-lobed crystal of Hematite. Silvery-gray color.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is steel or silver gray to black in some forms and red to brown in earthy forms. Sometimes tarnished with iridescent colors when in a hydrated form (called Turgite).
Luster is metallic or dull in earthy and oolitic forms.
Transparency: Crystals are opaque.
Crystal System is trigonal; bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits include tabular crystals of varying thickness sometimes twinned, micaceous (specular), botryoidal and massive. also earthy or oolitic.
Cleavage is absent. However, there is a parting on two planes.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 5 - 6
Specific Gravity is 5.3 (slightly above average for metallic minerals)
Streak is blood red to brownish red for earthy forms.
Associated Minerals include jasper (a variety of quartz) in banded iron formations (BIF or Tiger Iron), dipyramidal quartz, rutile, and pyrite among others.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, streak and hardness
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 5 Apatite
Luster: Metallic
Occurrence: Hematite is the mineral form of Iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3), one of several iron oxides. Hematite crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, and it has the same crystal structure as ilmenite and as corundum. Hematite and ilmenite form a complete solid solution at temperatures above 950°C.
Hematite is a mineral, colored black to steel or silver-gray, brown to reddish brown, or red. It is mined as the main ore of iron. Varieties include kidney ore, martite (pseudomorphs after magnetite), iron rose and specularite (specular hematite). While the forms of hematite vary, they all have a rust-red streak. Hematite is harder than pure iron, but much more brittle. Maghemite is a hematite- and magnetite-related oxide mineral.
Huge deposits of hematite are found in banded iron formations. Grey hematite is typically found in places where there has been standing water or mineral hot springs, such as those in Yellowstone National Park in the United States. The mineral can precipitate out of water and collect in layers at the bottom of a lake, spring, or other standing water. Hematite can also occur without water, however, usually as the result of volcanic activity.
Clay-sized hematite crystals can also occur as a secondary mineral formed by weathering processes in soil, and along with other iron oxides or oxyhydroxides such as goethite, is responsible for the red color of many tropical, ancient, or otherwise highly weathered soils.
Good specimens of hematite come from England, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, United States and Canada.
Notable Occurrences especially nice specimens come from England, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and the Lake Superior region.
Specific Gravity: 5.3
Streak: blood red to brown
Variety: Hematite has several varieties, each with their own unique names.
Hematite Rose is a circular arrangment of bladed crystals giving the appearance of the flower of a rose.
Tiger Iron is a sedimentary deposit of approximately 2.2 billion years old that consists of alternating layers of silver gray hematite and red jasper, chert or even tiger eye quartz.
Kidney Ore is the massive botryoidal form and gives the appearance of lumpy kidney-like masses.
Oolitic Hematite is a sedimentary formation that has a reddish brown color and an earthy luster and is composed of small rounded grains.
Specularite is a micaceous or flaky stone that is sparkling silver gray and sometimes used as an ornamental stone.
Hematite is an important ore of iron and its blood red color (in the powdered form) lends itself well to use as a pigment. Hematite gets its name from a Greek word meaning blood-like because of the color of its powder. Ancient superstition held that large deposits of hematite formed from battles that were fought and the subsequent blood that flowed into the ground. Crystals of Hematite are considered rare and are sought after by collectors as are fine Kidney Ore specimens.
Hematite is sometimes used in jewelry, either as black reflective stones or as a jewelry piece itself (such as a ring). Some jewelry is marketed as "magnetic hematite". I believe that is more likely another iron oxide, magnetite.Collection
Carol Swisher Mineral-Uses CollectionDimensions
Width
1-3/8 inDepth
1-3/16 inLength
2-5/8 inDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
* Untyped Location
Needs Updated Location - 2022Category
Permanent
