Hematites Tabular
Hematites is a mineral with formula Fe₂O₃, in the Óxidos group. This specimen comes from Djebel Nador, Nador, Nador, Oriental, Marruecos and joined the Terrium collection in 2026.
Description
360° floater, thumbnail size, with three main crystals arranged in an open V. Faces very bright, metallic and highly reflective, tabular–specular. A small calcite point on the inner face of the longer arm. Well-defined pulsed growth striations visible there.
History of this specimen
Together with its sibling, piece 0174, "La Navaja", it represents one of the two size extremes within the usual production of tabular hematite from Nador: while that one stands out for uncommon length, this one does so for absolute perfection at a diminutive size. What I find most striking is that, although the piece appears specular and opaque, when I bring a strong torch to its thinnest edges it becomes translucent and shows an intense blood-red colour, revealing its true nature as an iron oxide.
About Hematites
Hematite has played a major industrial and artisanal role. As one of the principal iron ores, it fed the production of the metal that underpins much of modern civilisation; as red ochre, it has served since prehistoric times as a stable pigment in rock paintings, ceramics and ritual objects. This dual life—heavy metallic mineral and durable red powder—makes it one of the most versatile materials in history, capable of linking heavy engineering with the earliest artistic expressions of humanity.
About the locality
Djebel Nador is a classic locality in northern Morocco, near Melilla, known for tabular hematite associated with volcanic rocks. The small working produced specimens prized for their metallic lustre, laminar habit and floater forms. There is often commercial confusion with pieces from Jebel Ouichane, another nearby hematite locality, yet not comparable in quality to this one.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0404
- Composition
- Fe₂O₃
- Name
- Hematites
- Variety
- Tabular
- Group
- Óxidos
- Category
- Estélites
- Associations
- calcita
- Mine
- Djebel Nador
- District / Municipality
- Nador
- Province
- Nador
- Region
- Oriental
- Country
- Marruecos
- Size (cm)
- 2.5 x 2.5 x 0.4
- Weight
- 4 g
- Acquired
- 2026
- Ex-collection
- Manuel Montes
- Etymology
- From the Greek haimatites, meaning "blood-like", because when powdered or streaked on an unglazed porcelain plate it leaves a deep brick-red mark. This is the most reliable way to identify it, as other black minerals (such as magnetite) leave a black or grey streak.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Acantita (Paramórfica tras Argentita) — Marruecos
- Anatasa — Pakistan
- Andradita (Melanita) — Marruecos
- Apatito — Marruecos
- Aragonito — Marruecos
- Arfvedsonita — Marruecos
- Armalcolita — España
- Azurita — Marruecos