Ilmenite
Species
Common · FeTiO₃
Iron titanium oxide and the primary commercial source of titanium. Forms as an accessory mineral in igneous rocks and concentrates in beach sands through wave action. Often found intergrown with magnetite in gabbros.
Identity
- Formula
- FeTiO₃
- Chemical class
- Oxide
- Also known as
- Titanium iron ore
- Ore of
- Titanium
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Habits
- Tabular, Massive, Granular
- Fracture
- Subconchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 4.72 g/cm³
- Luster
- Metallic, Submetallic
- Colors
- black, iron-black
- Streak
- black to brownish red
- Transparency
- Opaque
Geology
- Origins
- Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary
- Host rocks
- Granite, Volcanic rock, Schist and gneiss, River gravels and sands
- Associated minerals
- Magnetite, Hematite, Rutile, Apatite
- Found in
- Basalt, Kimberlite, Kimberlite pipe, Placer deposit
- Geography
- worldwide
Classification
- Rarity
- Common
- Gem quality
- No
Sources
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Ilmenite. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
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