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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.
Deposits of grey hematite are typically found in places where there has been standing water or mineral hot springs, such as those in Yellowstone. The mineral can precipitate out of water and collect in layers at the bottom of a lake, spring, or other standing water. But hematite can also occur without water, as the result of volcanic activity.
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.
