Some basic magnetic properties of alpha-Fe2O3 nanowires synthesized by oxygenating pure iron are reported. The blocking temperature of the nanowires is 120 K, where the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetization curves diverge, and the hysteresis loops vary notably with temperature. No evidence for Morin transition is found in the temperature range 4-300 K. In addition, the magnetic behavior below 50 K shows a further freezing of magnetic moments. Compared with nanoparticles, the nanowires show some significant differences in magnetic properties. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.