Natural Indian Minerals
Iron Ore

Name and Composition - Hematite : Fe2O3, Magnetite : Fe3O4.

Physical Properties - Hematite : Steel grey to iron black coloured platy crystal , aggregates. Crystals occur as rhombohedra often modified and occur in thin, tabular habits. Streak is cherry red to reddish brown. Hardness is 5.5 to 6.5 and specific gravity is 4.9 to 5.3.

Magnetite : Generally occurs as black coloured octahedral crystals having magnetism and metallic to sub metallic luster. Hardness is 5.5 to 6.5 and specific gravity is 5.2.

Mode of Occurrence - Generally occurs as banded hematite-quartzite/banded magnetite-quartzite.

Uses - Iron ore (both hematite and magnetite) is primarily used in iron and steel industries for manufacturing of pig iron, sponge iron, steel ingots, in cement, ferro-alloy, pigments etc.

Magnetite has found good scope in coal washeries. It is also being used in chemical and glass industries. Now a days low grade ore is also used after beneficaton.

Mineral based Industries – Chemical Industries (ferric oxide plant).

Industrial Prospects – Beneficiation plants, steel plants, chemical industries.


Physical Properties
Hardness
Sp. gr.
Melting point
Boiling point
Density
5.5 to 6.5
4.9 to 5.3
1538 °C
2862 °C
7.874 g/cm3
Chemical Properties
Oxidation states
Electronegativity
Atomic number
−4, −2, −1, +1
Pauling scale: 1.83
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