Ilmenite

Ilmenite from Miass, Ilmen Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia. 4.5 x 4.3 x 1.5 cm

General

Category

Oxide mineral

Formula
(repeating unit)

iron titanium oxide, FeTiO3

Strunz classification

04.CB.05

Dana classification

04.03.05.01

Crystal symmetry

Trigonal rhombohedral H-M symbol: 3 Space group: R3

Unit cell

a = 5.08854(7) , c = 14.0924(3) : Z=6

Identification

Color

Iron-black; gray with a brownish tint in

reflected light

Crystal habit

Granular to massive and lamellar exsolutions in hematite or magnetite

Crystal system

Trigonal

Twinning

{0001} simple, {1011} lamellar

Cleavage

absent; parting on {0001} and {1011}

Fracture

Conchoidal to subconchoidal

Tenacity

Brittle

Mohs scalehardness

56

Luster

Metallic to submetallic

Streak

Black

Diaphaneity

Opaque

Specific gravity

4.704.79

Optical properties

Uniaxial ()

Birefringence

Strong; O = pinkish brown, E = dark brown (bireflectance)

Other characteristics

weakly magnetic

References

[1][2][3]

Magnetite

Magnetite and pyrite from Piedmont, Italy

General

Category

Oxide minerals Spinel group Spinel structural group

Formula
(repeating unit)

iron(II,III) oxide, Fe2+Fe3+2O4

Strunz classification

04.BB.05

Crystal symmetry

Isometric 4/m 3 2/m

Unit cell

a = 8.397 ; Z=8

Identification

Color

Black, gray with brownish tint in reflected sun

Crystal habit

Octahedral, fine granular to massive

Crystal system

Isometric Hexoctahedral

Twinning

On {Ill} as both twin and composition plane, the spinel law, as contact twins

Cleavage

Indistinct, parting on {Ill}, very good

Fracture

Uneven

Tenacity

Brittle

Mohs scalehardness

5.56.5

Luster

Metallic

Streak

Black[1]

Diaphaneity

Opaque

Specific gravity

5.175.18

Solubility

Dissolves slowly in hydrochloric acid

References

[2][3][4][5]

Hematite

Hematite (blood ore) from Michigan

General

Category

Oxide minerals

Formula
(repeating unit)

iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3, -Fe2O3

Strunz classification

04.CB.05

Crystal symmetry

Trigonal hexagonal scalenohedral H-M symbol: (32/m) Space group: R3c

Unit cell

a = 5.038(2) , c = 13.772(12) ; Z = 6

Identification

Color

Metallic gray, dull to bright red

Crystal habit

Tabular to thick crystals; micaceous or platy, commonly in rosettes; radiating fibrous, reniform, botryoidal or stalactitic masses, columnar; earthy, granular, oolitic

Crystal system

Trigonal

Twinning

Penetration and lamellar

Cleavage

None, may show partings on {0001} and {1011}

Fracture

Uneven to sub-conchoidal

Tenacity

Brittle

Mohs scalehardness

5.56.5

Luster

Metallic to splendent

Streak

Bright red to dark red

Diaphaneity

Opaque

Specific gravity

5.26

Optical properties

Uniaxial (-)

Refractive index

n = 3.1503.220, n = 2.8702.940

Birefringence

= 0.280

Pleochroism

O = brownish red; E = yellowish red

References

[1][2][3]