2.1" Hematite Botryoidal Kidney Ore Rock Mineral Specimen Irhoud Mine, Morocco

Location: Irhoud Mine, Morocco

Weight: 2.9 Ounces 

Dimension: 2.1 Inches Long, 1.9 Inches Wide, 0.8 Inches thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Botryoidal Hematite

Hematite is a common and well-known mineral composed primarily of iron oxide. Its color ranges from steel gray to nearly black, as seen in the specular hematite variety. The form known as rainbow hematite displays iridescent hues reminiscent of oil on water, while its drusy variety is often backed with quartz to enhance durability. Despite the variations in appearance, all forms of hematite share a characteristic rust-red streak.

Hematite is harder than pure iron but considerably more brittle. The name derives from the Greek word “haimatites,” meaning blood, a reference to its red coloration in powdered form. Major deposits are found in Australia, Brazil (notably the rainbow variety), England, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It is also the state mineral of Alabama, USA, where approximately 375 million tons were mined between 1840 and 1975.

As one of the most abundant iron ores on Earth, hematite also occurs extensively on Mars, where it gives the planet its distinctive reddish hue. The mineral’s presence on Mars was first confirmed by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) aboard NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor.