Hematite

Hematite, the principal ore of iron, takes its name from the Greek word for blood, a reference to the deep red of its streak. It is an iron oxide (Fe2O3) that crystallizes in the trigonal system, forming tabular, botryoidal, massive, or rosette habits. The mineral is opaque with a metallic to earthy luster, a steel-gray to red-brown color, and no cleavage; its Mohs hardness is 5 to 6.5 and its specific gravity 5.00 to 5.30. Specular hematite displays a brilliant metallic sheen, and the mineral is one of the most abundant iron-bearing minerals in the crust. Regardless of external color, the reddish-brown streak reliably identifies the mineral in hand specimen.

Hematite is the principal ore of iron and one of the most common iron minerals. Its name comes from the Greek word for blood, referring to the red color of its streak. Specular hematite has a brilliant metallic luster.