Hematite

From Wikinfo

[[de:H�matit]]

File:Hematite.bear.220pix.jpg

Hematite carving, 5 cm (2 in) long Larger version

Hematite is the mineral form of Iron (III) oxide, (Fe₂O₃), one of several iron oxides. The ore sometimes contains slight amounts of titanium.

A very common mineral, coloured black to gray, brown to reddish brown, or red. It is mined as the main ore of iron.

Varieties are: Bloodstone, Iron Rose, Kidney Ore, Martite, Paint Ore, Specularite (Specular Hematite), Rainbow Hematite and Titano-hematite.

Hematite can formed by aqueous processses, weathering processes, or without water. The MER-B will use its instruments to test how the hematite found on Mars at Meridiani Planum was formed.

See also

• List of minerals
• Iron oxides

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Hematite" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematite, used under the GNU Free Documentation License