Identification guide · Minerals
How to Identify Hematite
Hematite is usually metallic gray, black, and red with a metallic luster and is opaque. It has a Mohs hardness of 6. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Its streak is red to reddish-brown. It is most often confused with Magnetite, Cassiterite, and Goethite; the tests below separate them.
Hematite identification checklist
| Color | Metallic Gray, Black, Red | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Metallic | Turn it under a lamp: a true metallic shine reflects like polished metal and stays opaque at thin edges. |
| Transparency | Opaque | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 6 | It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. |
| Streak | Red to reddish-brown | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | None | |
| Fracture | Conchoidal | Broken surfaces show smooth, curved, shell-like scoops. |
| Specific gravity | 5.3 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 5.3). |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
Extra tests for Hematite
Magnet test. Usually not magnetic in natural form; magnetic 'hematite' beads are man-made.
Hematite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Hematite vs Magnetite →
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Hematite vs Cassiterite →
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Hematite vs Goethite →
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Hematite vs Banded Iron Formation →
Field tips
- Check whether the specimen's color and texture match typical Hematite examples.
- Use hardness, streak, luster, grain size, and locality together; no single trait is enough for every specimen.
Hematite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Hematite?
Check the color (metallic gray, black, and red), the metallic luster, a Mohs hardness of 6 and a red to reddish-brown streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Hematite?
Hematite has a Mohs hardness of 6. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will.
What is the difference between Hematite and Magnetite?
Hematite (Mohs 6, metallic luster) and Magnetite (Mohs 5.5–6.5, metallic to submetallic/dull luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Hematite vs Magnetite comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Hematite worth anything?
Entry-level Hematite specimens sell for around $2, typical collector pieces about $10, and premium examples $50 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Hematite?
Hematite is most often metallic gray, black, and red. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
