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

Location: Irhoud Mine, Morocco

Weight: 5.8 Ounces 

Dimension: 2.8 Inches Long, 2 Inches Wide, 1.2 Inches thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Botryoidal Hematite

Hematite is a very common mineral composed of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃). Its color ranges from steel gray to nearly black, as seen in the variety known as specular hematite. Another striking form, rainbow hematite, displays vibrant iridescent colors reminiscent of oil on water. The drusy form of rainbow hematite is often backed with quartz to enhance durability. Despite the variation in appearance, all forms of hematite share a characteristic rust-red streak when scratched on a surface.

Hematite is harder than pure iron but also more brittle. Its name originates from the Greek word haimatites, meaning “blood,” referring to its red coloration. Major sources of hematite include 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.

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