Magnetite Mineral Data

General Magnetite Information

Chemical Formula:

Fe++Fe+++2O4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 231.54 gm

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Empirical Formula:

Fe³⁺₂Fe²⁺O₄

Environment:

Common accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Can be biogenically produced by a wide variety of organisms.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845

Locality:

Many localities and environments world wide. Link to&nbspMinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Magnes, a Geek shepherd, who discovered the mineral on Mt, Ida, He noted that the nails of his shoe and the iron ferrule of his staff clung to a rock.

Name Pronunciation:

Magnetite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 65339

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Lodestone

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Magnetic iron ore

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PDF 19-629

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Magnetite Image

Images:

Magnetite

Comments: Black, opaque octahedral crystals of magnetite on matrix.
Location: Isle of Ischia, near Naples, Compania, Italy. Scale: Not Given.
� Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Magnetite � Nordenskioldine

Comments: Colorless to white bladed crystals of nordenskiöldine with black magnetite.
Location: Pöhla-Tellerhäuser Gallery, Pöhla, Schwarzenberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany. Scale: Picture size 5 mm.
� Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Images:

Magnetite � Chesterite

Comments: Green platy chesterite in black, metallic magnetite.
Location: Near Missoula, Missoula County, Montana, USA. Scale: See Photo.
� Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Magnetite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.391, Z = 8; V = 590.80 Den(Calc)= 5.21

Crystal System:

Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F d3m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.53(1), 1.483(0.85), 1.614(0.85),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 1 1 1)

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Crystal Structure:

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Wechsler B A , Lindsley D H , Prewitt C T , American Mineralogist , 69 (1984) p.754-770, Crystal structure and cation distribution in titanomagnetites (Fe3-xTixO4), MT100-1350

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Magnetite
[1] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [2] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [3] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [4] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

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Physical Properties of Magnetite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Grayish black, Iron black.

Density:

5.1 - 5.2, Average = 5.15

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.

Habit:

Crystalline - Fine - Occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

5.5-6 - Knife Blade-Orthoclase

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Naturally strong

Streak:

black

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Optical Properties of Magnetite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.011 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2726,KPDmeas= 0.2757,KC= 0.2756
Ncalc = 2.41 - 2.44

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=2.42.

RL Color:

Gray with brownish tint.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Magnetite in Air**
λ	R	�∑ R(λ)�
�400 nm�	�22.30�	�
�420 nm�	�21.80�
�440 nm�	�21.30�
�460 nm�	�20.80�
�480 nm�	�20.50�
�500 nm�	�20.30�
�520 nm�	�20.30�
�540 nm�	�20.40�
�560 nm�	�20.50�
�580 nm�	�20.60�
�600 nm�	�20.60�
�620 nm�	�20.70�
�640 nm�	�20.80�
�660 nm�	�20.90�
�680 nm�	�21.00�
�700 nm�	�21.20�

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Magnetite in Air**
Relative Intensity	�� 0%	� 50%	100%	150%	200%	250%	300%	350%	400%	430%
R	�	�	�	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

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Calculated Properties of Magnetite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.89 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Magnetite =5.15 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99

Photoelectric:

PE_Magnetite= 22.14 barns/electron
U=PE_Magnetite x rElectron Density= 108.32 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Magnetite is Not Radioactive

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Magnetite Classification

Dana Class:

07.02.02.03 (07)Multiple Oxides

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(07.02)(A+ B++)2 X4 Spinel group

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(07.02.02)(Iron subgroup)

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07.02.02.01 Magnesioferrite�MgFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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07.02.02.02 Jacobsite�(Mn,Fe,Mg)(Fe,Mn)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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07.02.02.03 Magnetite�FeFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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07.02.02.04 Franklinite�(Zn,Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mn)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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07.02.02.05 Trevorite�NiFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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07.02.02.06 Cuprospinel�(Cu,Mg)Fe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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07.02.02.07 Brunogeierite�(Ge,Fe)Fe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

04.BB.05 04 - OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodate

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04.B - Metal:Oxygen = 3:4 and similar

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04.BB -With only medium-sized cations

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04.BB.05 Cochromite�(Co,Ni,Fe)(Cr,Al)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Filipstadite�(Mn,Mg)4SbFeO8 pseudo ISO 2/m 2/m 2/m

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04.BB.05 Magnetite�FeFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Gahnite�ZnAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Chromite�FeCr2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Galaxite�(Mn,Mg)(Al,Fe)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Cuprospinel�(Cu,Mg)Fe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Donathite?�(Fe,Mg)(Cr,Fe)2O4 P 4/nnm 4/m 2/m 2/m

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04.BB.05 Brunogeierite�(Ge,Fe)Fe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Coulsonite�FeV2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Hercynite�FeAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Franklinite�(Zn,Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mn)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Jacobsite�(Mn,Fe,Mg)(Fe,Mn)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Magnesiochromite�MgCr2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Magnesioferrite�MgFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Magnesiocoulsonite�MgV2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Manganochromite�(Mn,Fe)(Cr,V)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Qandilite�(Mg,Fe)2(Ti,Fe,Al)O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Nichromite�(Ni,Co,Fe)(Cr,Fe,Al)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Spinel�MgAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Ulvospinel�TiFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Zincochromite�ZnCr2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Trevorite�NiFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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04.BB.05 Vuorelainenite�(Mn,Fe)(V,Cr)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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Other Magnetite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Magnetite Specimen Label here :

Magnetite

Fe++Fe+++2O4
Dana No: 07.02.02.03 Strunz No: 04.BB.05
Locality:

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Notes:

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