Hematite, one of the most abundant and important iron minerals on Earth, occurs in a dazzling variety of forms – from massive ore and shimmering “specularite” to elegant rosettes and mirror-bright crystals. Its deep metallic lustre and rich history as both a gemstone and an ore of iron have made it a favourite among mineral collectors and geologists alike. The following list highlights twenty of the world’s best-known or most celebrated hematite localities, chosen for their exceptional crystal quality, scientific significance, and historical importance to the story of iron and mineral collecting.
1. Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. Brazil – A classic source of mirror-bright, tabular hematite crystals, commonly forming “iron roses”, and frequently associated with quartz and rutile. Highly sought after by collectors.
2. Egremont & Frizington, Cumbria, England – Historic mines include Florence, Ullcoats, Pallaflat, Beckermet and Bigrigg mines, famous for their classic kidney ore and specular hematite specimens with brilliant metallic lustre. These 19th-century classics often occur with gemmy water-clear calcite and remain among Britain’s finest minerals. Specimens from the Florence mine are by far the most common, and many come coated with striking red, hematite-included quartz crystals, called eisenkiesel.
3. Lake Superior District, Michigan, USA (Marquette Range, Iron Mountain) – Source of hematite in the very unusual micaceous habit, where it forms thin, mica-like layers massed together in thick "books". Probably the most famous American source of hematite prized by collectors.
4. Rio Marina Mine, Tuscany, Italy – Known for striking “iron-rose” rosettes and sharp lenticular crystals on quartz. Combines perfect form, deep metallic colour, and historical prestige.
5. Jebel Ouichane, Nador Province, Morocco – A modern classic locality for brilliant gunmetal-grey hematite rosettes and sharp crystals on white calcite, admired for their contrast and mirror finish.
6. Wessels Mine, Northern Cape, South Africa – Produces highly sculptured tabular hematite crystals often associated with andradite. The dramatic silver-on-red contrast and symmetry make them highly aesthetic collector pieces.
7. Magnet Cove, Hot Spring County, Arkansas, USA – Hematite from here forms “iron rose” crystals and lustrous plates associated with magnetite and rutile. A mineralogically famous alkaline complex yielding textbook forms.
8. St Gotthard & Cavradi Gorge, Swiss Alps, Switzerland – Famed for flawless, mirror-bright crystals lining alpine vugs, typically with rock-crystal quartz and adularia. Considered to be among the finest crystallised hematite worldwide.
9. Torre de Moncorvo, Portugal – a historic European iron-ore mine producing sharp metallic crystals and fine massive ore. Combines beauty with centuries of mining heritage.
10. Buskerud, Norway – Produces large, euhedral hematite crystals in skarn and metamorphic rocks. Specimens show exceptional steel-grey lustre and sharp trigonal form.
11. Aktas Deposit, Ulytau Region, Kazakhstan – Noted for elegant, silvery rosettes and blades of hematite on quartz, rivalling classic European material in quality and sharpness.
12. Cavnic, Romania – Alpine-type hydrothermal veins produce fine crystals of black hematite on quartz and baryte. Classic European material with a silvery sheen and interesting crystal habit.
13. Iron Monarch Mine, South Australia – Yields lustrous, sharp hematite crystals, often with magnetite and siderite. Notable for fine crystal intergrowths and brilliant metallic lustre.
14. Glendinning Mine, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada - Archean banded iron formation producing botryoidal hematite layers similar to those of Cumbria, England, that reflect early oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere, making this a geologically significant locality.
15. Bessemer District, Washington, USA – Historic U.S. source of fibrous and massive hematite ore. Though not always aesthetic, these deposits powered the region’s early steel industry.
16. Karara Mine, Western Australia – Massive open-pit deposit producing crusts of red, crystalline hematite on both massive hematite and silver magnetite.
17. Restormel Iron Lode, Cornwall, England – a historic British location producing fine examples of blood-red hematite in “kidney ore” form. Originally called Trinity Mine, it was visited in 1797 by Philip Rashleigh, who obtained fine specimens of crystallised goethite for his collection.
18. Payún Matrú, Mendoza Province, Argentina - exquisite specimens from a new find of hematite pseudomorphs after magnetite crystals. The clusters form parallel octahedral crystals in branching formation.
19. Knollengrube, Harz, Göttingen District, Lower Saxony, Germany - an ancient copper mine later working iron-bearing baryte veins. Produced some of the best kidney-ore specimens that compare favourably with Cumbrian material.
20. Lechang Mine, Lechang Co., Shaoguan, Guangdong, China - striking hematite clusters of black lenticular crystals on matrices of transparent white quartz. Now a recent classic Chinese occurrence for this combination.
The Assay House—Mineral Dealers of quality Mineral Specimens
Image Credits - CC James St. John