hematite

American  

[hee-muh-tahyt, hem-uh-] / ˈhi məˌtaɪt, ˈhɛm ə- /

noun

1. a very common mineral, iron oxide, Fe 2 O 3 , occurring in steel-gray to black crystals and in red earthy masses: the principal ore of iron.

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hematite British  

/ ˈhɛmətaɪt, ˈhɛmətaɪt, ˌhiː-, ˈhiːm-, ˌhɛməˈtɪtɪk /

noun

1. Also called: iron glance.  a red, grey, or black mineral, found as massive beds and in veins and igneous rocks. It is the chief source of iron. Composition: iron (ferric) oxide. Formula: Fe 2 O 3 . Crystal structure: hexagonal (rhombohedral)

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hematite Scientific  

/ hē′mə-tīt′ /

1. A reddish-brown to silver-gray metallic mineral. Hematite occurs as rhombohedral crystals, as reniform (kidney-shaped) crystals, or as fibrous aggregates in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It is the most abundant ore of iron, and it is usually slightly magnetic. Chemical formula: Fe ₂ O ₃ .

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hematitic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hematite

1535–45; < Latin haematītes bloodstone < Greek haimatī́tēs ( lithós ) bloodlike (stone). See hemat-, -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The Relax 5mm Science Kit, Large Hematite Magnets Magnetic Stones Building Blocks, sold through Joybuy, features dozens of small multicolored balls with high-powered magnets.

From Washington Times • Dec. 29, 2023

Hematite and magnetite can form precipitates from water that has a high concentration of dissolved oxygen.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

It begins for Dana Loesch in the Missouri Ozarks — a speck of a place called Hematite with a restaurant she says was actually named “the Rest’urnt.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2021

VRR was formerly known as Hematite Ridge due to the high concentrations of the iron oxide mineral hematite detected here from orbit.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2018

Hematite shews a red streak when scratched with a knife, which distinguishes it from magnetite.

From Geology by Geikie, James