Specularite
Variety Fe2O3
Also called Specular hematite
About it
Hematite in bright, mirror-like flakes or plates that sparkle like mica, yet still leaves a red-brown streak. Common in iron ores and quartz veins.
- 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
- steel grey, black, silvery
- Transparency
- opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; micaceous flakes, uneven fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.