The term "blood" comes from blood-red coloured cooling water when grinding the hematite. Thin platelets of hematite are red-translucent, while polished with a metallic luster.

HEMATITE
Colour: black, black gray, brown red
Mohs hardness: 5.5-6.5
Density: 5.12-5.28
Transparency: opaque
Fracture: muscular, uneven, fibrous