ˈheməˌtīt, ˈhēm- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin haematites, from Greek haimatitēs resembling blood, from haimat-, haima blood — more at hem-
: a mineral Fe 2 O 3 consisting of ferric oxide and constituting an important iron ore that occurs in splendent metallic-looking rhombohedral crystals, in massive forms, and in red earthy forms (hardness of crystals 5.5-6.5, specific gravity of crystals about 5.20) — called also specular iron ; see limonite , red ocher