Iron rose
Variety Fe2O3
Also called Eisenrose and Hematite rose
About it
Thin hematite plates grown edge to edge into a flower-like rosette. Classic from Alpine clefts in Switzerland, such as the St. Gotthard area; similar rosettes come from Brazil.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Hematite variety
- Formula
- Fe2O3
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5.5–6.5
- Specific gravity
- 4.9–5.3
- Streak
- red-brown
- Lustre
- metallic
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Colours
- black, steel grey, sometimes iridescent
- Transparency
- opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; uneven fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.