Short notes on the Chemical composition, Physical properties and uses of Magnetite

Chemical composition: Magnetite is composed of iron and oxyge the purest form it is ferrosoferric oxide (Fe₃0₄; Fe = 72.4% and 27.6%). Sometimes iron is replaced by minor amounts of Ti and Mg

Physical properties:

(i) Form: Massive, granular, coarse to fine grained; crystallized vari are octahedral or combination of octahedron and rhombdodecah forms.

(ii) Colour: Iron black.

(iii) Lustre: Metallic or submetallic.

(iv) Streak: Black.

(v) Hardness: 6.

(vi) Cleavage: Absent; some varieties exhibit octahedral parting.

(vii) Fracture: Subconchoidal.

(viii) Specific gravity: 5.18. (xi) Diaphaneity: Opaque

(ix) Magnetic property: Highly magnetic

Use: Magnetite is used for extraction of iron metal and in ferro industries.