Hematite is a common iron oxide mineral recognizable by its distinctive reddish-brown streak even when the specimen itself is metallic and silver-gray. It occurs in a variety of habits including plate-like specularite and rounded botryoidal forms, making it a favorite for mineral collectors. It is found globally in a wide range of geological environments, often forming as a result of weathering or hydrothermal activity.
Is this hematite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch hematite with a known reference. Hematite sits at Mohs 5.5-6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hematite leaves a cherry-red to reddish-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hematite typically shows a metallic to earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel-gray, black, reddish-brown, silver.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular, micaceous, botryoidal, massive, or reniform.
Often confused with
Hematite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hematite leaves cherry-red to reddish-brown, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads metallic to earthy on Hematite and metallic on Magnetite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hematite leaves cherry-red to reddish-brown, Manaccanite leaves black; luster reads metallic to earthy on Hematite and submetallic on Manaccanite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hematite leaves cherry-red to reddish-brown, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic to earthy on Hematite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside hematite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hematite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₂O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6.5
- Density
- 5.26 g/cm³
- Streak
- Cherry-red to Reddish-brown
- Luster
- Metallic to Earthy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular, Micaceous, Botryoidal, Massive, Or Reniform
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Industrial, Pigment, Jewelry
- Host rock
- Igneous Rocks, Hydrothermal Veins, And Sedimentary Iron Formations
- Typical price
- $5-50 thumbnail, $50-300 cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find hematite
80 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- England
- Italy
- USA
- Canada
U.S. states with hematite
Each link opens a state-specific list of mapped rockhounding spots that produce hematite.
Field-hunting tip
Look in igneous rocks, hydrothermal veins, and sedimentary iron formations country — that is the host setting where hematite typically forms. If you start seeing magnetite, quartz, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular, micaceous, botryoidal, massive, or reniform habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah, Missouri, North Carolina — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify hematite?+
Where is hematite found?+
Can I find hematite in the United States?+
How much is hematite worth?+
What rocks look like hematite?+
What minerals are found with hematite?+
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Find hematite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
