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

Location: Irhoud Mine, Morocco

Weight: 2.9 Ounces 

Dimension: 3.2 Inches Long, 1.8 Inches Wide, 0.6 Inches thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Botryoidal Hematite

Hematite, a widely occurring iron oxide mineral, displays colors ranging from steel gray to nearly black in its specular form. The rainbow hematite variety reveals iridescent hues resembling oil slicks, often featuring a drusy quartz backing to enhance durability. Regardless of form, hematite consistently shows a distinctive rust-red streak. While it is harder than pure iron, it remains notably brittle. The term hematite derives from the Greek "haimatites," meaning blood. This mineral is mined globally, including locations such as Australia, Brazil, England, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It serves as Alabama's state mineral, with historic mining of approximately 375 million tons between 1840 and 1975. Hematite is abundant on Earth and is also prevalent on Mars, imparting the planet’s characteristic red hue, first detected by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer aboard the Mars Global Surveyor.