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Ilmenite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Ilmenite
Formula:
Fe2+TiO3
As a Commodity:
Colour:
Iron black or black
Lustre:
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
5 - 6
Specific Gravity:
4.68 - 4.76
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1827 by Adolph Theodor Kupffer after its type locality in the Ilmen Mountains, Russia.
Type Locality:
Polymorph of:
Geikielite-Ilmenite Series, Ilmenite-Pyrophanite Series. The iron analogue of Geikielite, Pyrophanite, and Ecandrewsite.
May be confused with minerals of the Crichtonite Group and with Hematite.
Compare Unnamed (Fe-Ti oxyhydroxide I) and Unnamed (Fe-Ti oxyhydroxide II).
May be confused with minerals of the Crichtonite Group and with Hematite.
Compare Unnamed (Fe-Ti oxyhydroxide I) and Unnamed (Fe-Ti oxyhydroxide II).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2013
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2013:4
Similar Names
| Ilmenite (of Brooke) | A synonym of 'Columbite' | |
| Ullmannite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | NiSbS |
IMA Classification of Ilmenite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Fe2+Ti4+O3
First published:
1827
Classification of Ilmenite
4.CB.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4.3.5.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
7.9.15
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
9 : Oxides of Ti
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
9 : Oxides of Ti
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ilm | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Ilm | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
| Ilm | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Ilm | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 |
Basalt quarry, Pauliberg, Markt Sankt Martin, Oberpullendorf District, Burgenland, Austria