Hematite facts for kids

A piece of hematite

Hematite is a very common mineral found all over the world. It is the most important source of iron, which is a metal we use every day. Most hematite is made of iron(III) oxide, which is a compound of iron and oxygen.

People dig up millions of tons of hematite each year. This mineral is usually sent to large factories called blast furnaces. There, the iron is taken out of the hematite to make steel. Steel is a strong metal used to build cars, buildings, and many other things. Hematite is also an oxide mineral, meaning it contains oxygen.

What Hematite Looks Like

Hematite can look quite different depending on the type. It often has a shiny, metallic look, like polished metal. This is called a metallic luster. Sometimes, it can look dull and earthy, like rust. Its colors can range from shiny metallic gray to a deep, earthy red.

How Hematite Breaks

When you break a piece of hematite, it doesn't split along flat surfaces. Instead, it breaks in an uneven and rough way. This is called an irregular fracture. Minerals that break along flat surfaces are said to have "cleavage," but hematite does not have this.

Hematite's Hardness and Streak

On the Mohs hardness scale, hematite usually scores between 5 and 6. This means it's harder than glass but can be scratched by a steel file.

One special way to identify hematite is by its "streak." To find the streak, you rub the mineral across a piece of unglazed porcelain, like a tile. Even if the hematite looks gray, its streak will always be a bright red to dark red color, similar to rust. This is a very helpful clue for scientists.

Hematite's Chemical Makeup

The chemical formula for hematite is Fe₂O₃. This formula tells us that hematite is made of two atoms of iron (Fe) and three atoms of oxygen (O). This is why it's called iron(III) oxide.

How We Use Hematite

The main use for hematite is to make iron and steel. Without hematite, it would be much harder to get the iron needed for our modern world. It's a key ingredient in many things we use daily, from bridges to kitchen appliances.

Related pages

• Corundum
• Iron(III) oxide
• Rust

Images for kids

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  Image mosaic from the Mars Exploration Rover Microscopic Imager shows Hematite spherules partly embedded in rock at the Opportunity landing site. Image is around 5 cm (2 in) across.

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  A microscopic picture of hematite

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  Crystal structure of hematite

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  A rare pseudo-scalenohedral crystal habit

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  Three gemmy quartz crystals containing bright rust-red inclusions of hematite, on a field of sparkly black specular hematite

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  Golden acicular crystals of rutile radiating from a center of platy hematite

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  Cypro-Minoan cylinder seal (left) made from hematite with corresponding impression (right), approximately 14th century BC

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  A cluster of parallel-growth, mirror-bright, metallic-gray hematite blades from Brazil

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  Hematite carving, 5 cm (2 in) long

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  Hematite, variant specularite (specular hematite), with fine grain shown

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  Red hematite from banded iron formation in Wyoming

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  Hematite on Mars as found in form of "blueberries" (named by NASA)

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  Streak plate, showing that Hematite consistently leaves a rust-red streak.

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  Hematite in Scanning Electron Microscope, magnification 100x.

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  Micaceous hematite taken with permission from Kelly's Mine, Lustleigh, Devon UK

See also

In Spanish: Hematita para niños