Baryte vs Hematite
Baryte and Hematite are genuine alternatives to one another — a choice somebody actually makes — and differ on 5 measured properties, crystal system most clearly.
Baryte vs Hematite
Baryte
BaSO4
Barium sulfate — astonishingly heavy for a pale, non-metallic mineral, and the weight in the drilling mud of every oil well.
Hematite
Fe2O3
Iron oxide — the most important ore of iron, and the red pigment used since the Palaeolithic.
| Property | Baryte | Hematite |
|---|---|---|
| Cleavage Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | perfect in one direction, good in two others | Not known |
| Crystal system Categorical values can be listed side by side but not ordered or subtracted. | orthorhombic | trigonal |
| Density | 4.3–4.6 g/cm³ | 5.26–5.3 g/cm³ higher |
| Lustre Categorical values can be listed side by side but not ordered or subtracted. | vitreous to pearly | metallic to earthy |
| Mohs hardness Mohs hardness is an ordinal scale: values can be ranked, but differences and ratios between them are not meaningful. | 3–3.5 | 5–6 higher |
| Streak Categorical values can be listed side by side but not ordered or subtracted. | white | red to reddish brown |