Hematite

Sample of black botryoidal Hematite. Hematite (Fe2O3) can be steel-grey, red, reddish brown or black in colour. Lustre is metallic and streak can be dark red, cherry-red or brownish red. Hardness is 5 to 6. Hematite is found usually as thick or thin tabular growths or rosettes but can also be compact, granular, radiated, reniform, botryoidal, columnar, micaceous (Specular) or earthy (Red Ocher).