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Properties & Uses of Hematite

Hematite is classified as an iron-based mineral, whose chemical formula is Fe2O3, or iron oxide. It is found in various places around the world including England, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, the United States and Canada. Hematite comes from the Greek word for "bloodlike," which refers to the dark red color of some kinds of hematite in powder form. Hematite is not a rare mineral; it is used in the iron-making process, jewelry and as a pigment in paint.

Formation
- Hematite is an iron mineral that is frequently created through the sedimentary process. It may also occur within iron ore streaks in metamorphic rocks or as part of a limestone intrusion in igneous rock.
Properties
- The appearance of hematite varies widely, including forms that resemble a lustrous mineral flower, a steely gray rock or a dull red stone. On occasion, the iron mineral may have dull red streaks or exhibit iridescent colors. This common mineral has a hardness of 5 or 6 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, and a specific gravity of 5.3. Crystals are uneven, opaque and without cleavage. Hematite may be found in in conjunction with jasper, quartz, rutile or pyrite.
Hematite in Iron Ore
- Iron ore includes several types of iron-rich rocks and minerals, which are mined and purified to make pig iron, a ferrous product, instrumental in the manufacture of steel. Iron ore usually contains large amounts of iron oxide, which can vary in color from dull gray to bright yellow to red ocher. Prospectors and mining companies concentrate on iron ore deposits, where hematite (Fe2O3) or magnetite (Fe3O4) are in abundant supply.
Other Applications
- Besides use as a source of iron ore, hematite is widely used in jewelry and as a component in cosmetics and paint. Unusual hematite stones with colorful names like "Tiger's iron," "Oolitic," "Kidney Ore" and "Hematite Rose" may be used as the main feature in many types of jewelry. These stones vary in color, size and shape. The "Hematite Rose," for example, gets its name from circularly arranged, red, flaky crystals that resemble a rose. The "Kidney Stone" variety comes in unusual shapes and is dense, dark and smooth.
  
  Hematite as a paint ingredient has been traced back to the caves of Lascaux in southwestern France, as well as the tombs of ancient Egypt. The iron oxide present in specific minerals produces a red ocher color, whenever the rock is ground up into a powdered form. Within the cosmetic industry, this common mineral might find its way into face paint, body paint and lipstick.

Rocks & Minerals