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Hematite

Chemical Formula

Fe2O3

Chemical Class

Oxides

Properties

Hematite crystals are usually tabular, from thick to thin, with enhanced basal planes, often displaying triangular marks. Thin hematite plates can be grouped in rosette shapes, they are iron red, as in the figure above. Hematite specularite variety is the one with flat and glossy faces that reflect images are mirrors.

Origin

This sample is from Diamantina (MG).

Curiosities

The name hematite comes from the Greek ‘hemos’, meaning ‘blood’. That is due because hematite, as it is transformed into dust, it becomes reddish.

Use

This mineral is the main iron source, the most common, cheap and relevant metal and it is used in several products, especially as it is transformed into steel. Hematite photo credit: Henry Yu

Source: MM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal -

ABC of mining

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