RocksdayHematite vs Iron Meteorite
The quickest way to tell Hematite from Iron Meteorite: Hematite is clearly harder: Mohs 5.5–6.5 versus 4–5.
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
Nickel-iron from the core of a melted asteroid. It is heavy, strongly magnetic, and shows a crisscross pattern on an etched slice.
Photo: Ji-Elle, Public domain
Quick tests
- Hardness: Hematite is clearly harder: Mohs 5.5–6.5 versus 4–5.
- Magnet: A magnet sticks to Iron Meteorite but not to Hematite.
- Streak (rub on unglazed porcelain): Hematite leaves a reddish brown streak; Iron Meteorite leaves gray.
- Heft: Iron Meteorite feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 7.3–8 vs 5.26).
- Texture: Iron Meteorite is a rock — a mix of grains or minerals; Hematite is a single mineral.
Key differences
- Hematite leaves a red streak and is not strongly magnetic.
Side by side
| Property | Hematite | Iron Meteorite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Igneous rock |
| Mohs hardness | 5.5–6.5 | 4–5 |
| Luster | Metallic to earthy | Metallic |
| Streak | Reddish brown | Gray |
| Colors | Silver, Black, Red | Gray, Silver, Brown |
| Crystal system / structure | Trigonal | Nickel-iron crystals (Widmanstätten pattern) |
| Specific gravity | 5.26 | 7.3–8 |
| Formula | Fe₂O₃ | — |
| Found in | Lake Superior iron ranges; Carajás, Brazil | Canyon Diablo, Arizona; Gibeon, Namibia |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
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 →How to identify iron meteorite
- Very heavy for its size, and a magnet sticks hard.
- Thumbprint dimples (regmaglypts) or a rusty brown crust.
- No cubes. A gray streak, not the black streak of magnetite.
- A polished and etched slice shows interlocking bands.
Structure: Nickel-iron crystals (Widmanstätten pattern)
Full Iron Meteorite guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hematite and iron meteorite?
Hematite is a mineral (Fe₂O₃) with a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5 and a metallic to earthy luster, usually silvery, black or red. Iron Meteorite is an igneous rock with a Mohs hardness of about 4–5 and a metallic luster, usually gray, silvery or brown.
How can you tell hematite from iron meteorite?
Hematite is clearly harder: Mohs 5.5–6.5 versus 4–5. A magnet sticks to Iron Meteorite but not to Hematite. Hematite leaves a reddish brown streak; Iron Meteorite leaves gray. Iron Meteorite feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 7.3–8 vs 5.26). Iron Meteorite is a rock — a mix of grains or minerals; Hematite is a single mineral. Hematite leaves a red streak and is not strongly magnetic.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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