Formula: Fe2O3
Origin of name: From Greek aima - blood
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Crystal class: -3 2/m
Twinning: On {0001}, penetration; on {10-11}, lamellar
Unit cell: a = 5.04 Ǻ, c = 13.75 Ǻ
Colour: Steel-gray to iron-black, thin fragments deep blood
Diaphaneity:
Luster: Metallic, submetallic, dull
Habit: Crystals thin to thick tabular, rhombohedral, pyramidal, or prismatic; tabular crystals may form rosettes; massive
Hardness: 5 to 6
Specific gravity: 5.26
Cleavage: 2; {0001} and {10-11} parting due to twinning
Tenacity: Subconchoidal to uneven; brittle
Streak: Deep red or brownish red
Synonyms/varieties: Martite (replacing magnetite), specularite (micaceous var.), turgite, oligiste iron, persian red
Comments: Dimorphous with maghemite
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