Ilmenite
Mineral FeTiO3
Also called Menaccanite and Titanic iron ore
About it
Black tabular plates and grains like hematite, but with a black streak and weak magnetism. A main titanium ore, mined from beach sands; named for the Ilmen Mountains, Russia, and found as big plates in Norway.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Oxide, ilmenite group
- Formula
- FeTiO3
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5–6
- Specific gravity
- 4.68–4.76
- Streak
- black
- Lustre
- metallic, submetallic
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Colours
- black, steel grey
- Transparency
- opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; conchoidal to subconchoidal fracture
- Magnetic
- Weakly
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.