RocksdayCinnabar vs Hematite
How to tell them apart
Mercury sulfide and the main ore of mercury: bright scarlet, soft and very heavy. Toxic — handle with care.
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Iron oxide and the world's most important iron ore. It can be shiny steel-gray or earthy red, but always leaves a reddish streak.
Photo: Wikipedia Loves Art participant "Assignment_Houston_One", CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick tests
- Fingernail: A fingernail scratches Cinnabar (Mohs 2–2.5) but not Hematite (Mohs 5.5–6.5).
- Streak (rub on unglazed porcelain): Cinnabar leaves a scarlet streak; Hematite leaves reddish brown.
- Heft: Cinnabar feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 8.1–8.2 vs 5.26).
- Luster: Hematite looks metallic; Cinnabar doesn't.
Key differences
- Hematite is much harder and leaves a duller red-brown streak.
Side by side
| Property | Cinnabar | Hematite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 2–2.5 | 5.5–6.5 |
| Luster | Adamantine to dull | Metallic to earthy |
| Streak | Scarlet | Reddish brown |
| Colors | Red | Silver, Black, Red |
| Crystal system | Trigonal | Trigonal |
| Specific gravity | 8.1–8.2 | 5.26 |
| Formula | HgS | Fe₂O₃ |
| Found in | Almadén, Spain; Guizhou, China | Lake Superior iron ranges; Carajás, Brazil |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify cinnabar
- Bright scarlet red with a scarlet streak.
- Very heavy.
- Soft — a fingernail or coin scratches it.
- Often coats white quartz or dolomite.
Crystal system: Trigonal
Full Cinnabar guide →How to identify hematite
- Reddish-brown streak — the key test, even on silvery pieces.
- Heavy for its size.
- Not magnetic (or only weakly).
- Sometimes forms bubbly 'kidney ore' masses.
Crystal system: Trigonal
Full Hematite guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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