Hē'ma-tīte, n.

n. [Fr. hématite, Lat. hæmatites; Gr. αἱματίτης, blood-like, from αἷμα, blood.] (Min.) An important ore of iron, the sesqui-oxide, so called because of the red color of the powder;—also called specular iron, oligist iron, and rhombohedral iron ore.

☞ Limonite, or the hydrous sesquioxide of iron, is sometimes called brown hematite. Dana.