The mineral form of iron (III) oxide, or ferric oxide, it is sometimes spelled as haematite. Typically black or silver-gray, it can also be found as a steel, brown, reddish brown, or red color. Mined as the main ore of iron, it is much harder than pure iron, yet much more brittle.
Its spectral signature has been detected via infrared spectrometer on the planet Mars, by both the NASA Mars Global Surveyor, and the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, when they were in orbit around the planet. This find was of particular importance, because terrestrial hematite is usually formed in aqueous environments, alluding to a considerable amount of water being present on the planet at some point. It can also be created synthetically, which is known as magnetic hematite.
Origin: MI