This is a reflected light micrograph of polished, carbon coated hematite crystals from the famous Elba locality. The identifying etched label, which is a feature of our standards, is invaluable for navigating in an electron beam instrument.
Thisi is a useful standard which contains a high concentration of iron in an oxide matrix. Hematite typically contains small amounts of the rare element vanadium, so this standard could be used trace
quantities of V. It is also reputed to be a good standard for oxygen. The hardness of hematite can be judged by the fact that the grains stand up above the polished surface of the mount. The name derives from the blood-red color in powder form
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for a mineralogical account of everything you might want to know about Hematite.
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