Transmission spectra of synthetic and natural hematite(&agr;-Fe2O3)crystals are measured at temperatures 10, 25, and 300 K in the wavelength range 500–1100 nm, and the absorption spectra are computed. Pure exciton and exciton–magnond–dtransition bands are revealed, the corresponding wavelengths at 10 K being&lgr;0=1020 nmand&lgr;1=965 nmrespectively. The half-widths and oscillator forces areg0=84 cm−1,f0=4×10−9,g1=60 cm−1,f1=1.4×10−7for 10 K,g0=85 cm−1,f0=5×10−9,g1=110 cm−1,f1=2.1×10−7for 25 K. The mechanisms of band formation for weakly allowedd–dtransitions in hematite are analyzed. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.