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Hematite

(Science: chemical) An important ore of iron, the sesquioxide, so called because of the red colour of the powder. It occurs in splendent rhombohedral crystals, and in massive and earthy forms; the last called red ocher.

Synonym: specular iron, oligist iron, rhombohedral iron ore, and bloodstone. See brown hematite, under brown.

Origin: L. Haematites, gr. Bloodlike, fr. Ai^ma, aimatos, blood.