Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Ilmenite

Big Photo

Martin Marietta Quarry (11th Street Quarry), Hickory, Catawba Co., North Carolina, USA
© Keith Wood

Show Ilmenite Photos (155)
Formula:
Fe
2+
 
TiO
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:Iron black or black
Lustre:Metallic, Sub-MetallicHardness:5 - 6
Name:Named after its type locality in the Ilmen Mountains, Russia.


Ilmenite Group. Geikielite-Ilmenite Series, Ilmenite-Pyrophanite Series. The iron analogue of Geikielite, Pyrophanite, and Ecandrewsite.

May be confused with minerals of the Crichtonite Group.

Classification of Ilmenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/C.05-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID: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
Dana 8th edition ID:4.3.5.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.9.15

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
9 : Oxides of Ti
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2013.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Ilmenite

Type Locality:Ilmen Natural Reserve, Ilmen Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1827

Occurrences of Ilmenite

Geological Setting:Common accessory mineral in igneous rocks. Also occurs in placer deposits.

Physical Properties of Ilmenite

Lustre:Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Iron black or black
Streak:Black to reddish brown
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=566 - 698 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Parting:On {0001}, {1011} due to twinning (?).
Fracture:Conchoidal, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.68 - 4.76 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.789 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ilmenite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:R3
Cell Parameters:a = 5.08854(7) Å, c = 14.0924(3) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.769
Unit Cell Volume:V 316.01 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:6
Morphology:Commonly thick tabular {0001}. Sometimes in thin laminae; also acute rhombohedral. Compact massive; as embedded grains.
Twinning:1. On {0001}; 2. On {1011}, lamellar.
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Ilmenite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Ilmenite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Ilmenite no.29 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Ilmenite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong in shades of gray
Bireflectance:Strong O=pinkish brown E= dark brown
Colour in reflected light:Greyish white with brown tint
Pleochroism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Ilmenite

Formula:
Fe
2+
 
TiO
 
3
Essential elements:Fe, O, Ti
All elements listed in formula:Fe, O, Ti
Common Impurities:Mn,Mg,V

Relationship of Ilmenite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Geikielite (see here)
Forms a series with Pyrophanite (see here)
Related to:
  • Ilmenite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    4.CB.05Brizziite
    NaSb
    5+
     
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.05Corundum
    Al
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.05Ecandrewsite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)TiO
     
    3
    4.CB.05Eskolaite
    Cr
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.05Geikielite
    MgTiO
     
    3
    4.CB.05Hematite
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.05Karelianite
    V
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.05Melanostibite
    Mn
    2+
     
    		(Sb
    5+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)O
     
    3
    4.CB.05Pyrophanite
    Mn
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    3
    4.CB.05Akimotoite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)SiO
     
    3
    4.CB.05Auroantimonate
    AuSbO
     
    3
    4.CB.05Romanite
    ([],Pb,Ca)UFe
    2+
    2
    		(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    6
    		Ti
     
    12
    		O
     
    38
    4.CB.05UM1998-11-O-AuHSb
    Au
     
    2
    		SbO
     
    2
    		(OH)
    4.CB.05Tistarite
    Ti
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.10Avicennite
    Tl
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.10Bixbyite
    (Mn
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.15Armalcolite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)Ti
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    4.CB.15Pseudobrookite
    Fe
     
    2
    		TiO
     
    5
    4.CB.15Mongshanite
    (Mg,Cr,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		(Ti,Zr)
     
    5
    		O
     
    12
    4.CB.20Zincohögbomite-2N2S
    Ti(Zn,Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    8
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH)
    4.CB.20Zincohögbomite-2N6S
    Ti(Zn,Mg,Fe)
     
    6
    		Al
     
    16
    		O
     
    31
    		(OH)
    4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-6N6S
    Ti(Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    8
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH)
    4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-2N3S
    Ti(Mg,Fe)
     
    3
    		Al
     
    10
    		O
     
    19
    		(OH)
    4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-2N2S
    Ti(Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    8
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH)
    4.CB.20Ferrohögbomite-6N12S
    Ti(Fe,Mg)
     
    4
    		Al
     
    12
    		O
     
    23
    		(OH)
    4.CB.25Pseudorutile
    Fe
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    4.CB.30Berdesinskiite
    V
    3+
    2
    		TiO
     
    5
    4.CB.35Olkhonskite
    (Cr,V)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    4.CB.35Schreyerite
    V
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    4.CB.40Kamiokite
    Fe
     
    2
    		Mo
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    4.CB.40Nolanite
    (V,Fe,Fe,Ti)
     
    10
    		O
     
    14
    		(OH)
     
    2
    4.CB.40Rinmanite
    Zn
     
    2
    		Sb
     
    2
    		Mg
     
    2
    		Fe
     
    4
    		O
     
    14
    		(OH)
     
    2
    4.CB.45Claudetite
    As
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.45Stibioclaudetite
    AsSbO
     
    3
    4.CB.50Arsenolite
    As
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.50Sénarmontite
    Sb
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.55Valentinite
    Sb
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.60Bismite
    Bi
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.65Sphaerobismoite
    Bi
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    4.CB.70Sillénite
    Bi
     
    12
    		SiO
     
    20
    4.CB.75Kyzylkumite
    V
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    4.CB.80Tietaiyangite
    Fe
    3+
    4
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    9
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    7.9.1Hongquiite
    TiO
    7.9.2Rutile
    TiO
     
    2
    7.9.3Anatase
    TiO
     
    2
    7.9.4Brookite
    TiO
     
    2
    7.9.5Geikielite
    MgTiO
     
    3
    7.9.6Perovskite
    CaTiO
     
    3
    7.9.7Kassite
    CaTi
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    		(OH)
     
    2
    7.9.8Tausonite
    SrTiO
     
    3
    7.9.9Crichtonite
    (Sr,La,Ce,Y)(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Mn)
     
    21
    		O
     
    38
    7.9.10Lucasite-(Ce)
    CeTi
     
    2
    		(O,OH)
     
    6
    7.9.11Hibonite
    (Ca,Ce)(Al,Fe,Ti,Si,Mg)
     
    12
    		O
     
    19
    7.9.12Yttrocrasite-(Y)
    (Y,Th,Ca,U)(Ti,Fe)
     
    2
    		(O,OH)
     
    6
    7.9.13Pyrophanite
    Mn
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    3
    7.9.14Iwakiite
    Mn(Fe,Mn)
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    7.9.16Pseudobrookite
    Fe
     
    2
    		TiO
     
    5
    7.9.17Ulvöspinel
    Fe
     
    2
    		TiO
     
    4
    7.9.18Pseudorutile
    Fe
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    7.9.19Freudenbergite
    Na
     
    2
    		(Ti,Fe)
     
    8
    		O
     
    16
    7.9.20 Kennedyite
    MgFeTi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    7.9.21Armalcolite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)Ti
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    7.9.22Högbomite
    (Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		(Al,Ti)
     
    5
    		O
     
    10
    7.9.23Qandilite
    (Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		(Ti,Fe,Al)O
     
    4
    7.9.24Cafetite
    (Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    7.9.25Loveringite
    (Ca,Ce)(Ti,Fe,Cr,Mg)
     
    21
    		O
     
    38
    7.9.26Lindsleyite
    (Ba,Sr)(Ti,Zr,Fe,Cr)
     
    21
    		O
     
    38
    7.9.27Priderite
    (K,Ba)(Ti,Fe)
     
    8
    		O
     
    16
    7.9.28Jeppeite
    (K,Ba)
     
    2
    		(Ti,Fe)
     
    6
    		O
     
    13
    7.9.29Ankangite
    Ba(Ti,V
    3+
     
    		,Cr)
     
    8
    		O
     
    16
    7.9.30Ecandrewsite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)TiO
     
    3
    7.9.31Landauite
    NaMnZn
     
    2
    		(Ti,Fe)
     
    6
    		Ti
     
    12
    		O
     
    38

    Other Names for Ilmenite

    Synonyms:
    Axotomous EisenerzCibdelophaneHaplotypiteIlmenite (of Kupffer)Mänaken
    Mohsite (of Levy)Para-ilmeniteTitaneisenerzTitanic IronTitanioferrite
    Other Languages:
    Basque:Ilmenita
    Czech:Ilmenit
    Dutch:Ilmeniet
    Finnish:Ilmeniitti
    French:Ilménite
    Titane oxydé ferrifère
    German:Ilmenit
    Eisenhaltiges Titanerz
    Hystatisches Eisenerz
    Titaneisen
    Titaneisenstein
    Greek:Ιλμενίτης
    Hebrew:אילמניט
    Hungarian:Ilmenitcsoport
    Italian:Ilmenite
    Japanese:イルメナイト
    Lithuanian:Ilmenitas
    Norwegian (Bokmål):Ilmenitt
    Polish:Ilmenit
    Portuguese:Ilmenita
    Romanian:Ilmenit
    Russian:Ильменит
    Slovak:Ilmenit
    Spanish:Ilmenita
    Ukrainian:Ільменіт
    Varieties:
    Ferrian IlmeniteGuadarramiteHystatiteIserineKibdelophane
    Magnesian menaccaniteMagnetoilmeniteManaccaniteManganilmeniteManganoan Ilmenite
    PicrocrichtonitePicroilmenitePicrotitaniteSilico-ilmeniteWashingtonite

    Other Information

    Other Information:Weakly magnetic
    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

    References for Ilmenite

    Reference List:Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 534-541.

    Neumann, E.-R. (1974) The distribution of Mn 2+ and Fe 2+ between ilmenites and magnetites in igneous rocks. American Journal of Science: 274: 1074-1088.

    Grew, E.S. (1980a) Sillimanite and ilmenite from high grade metamorphic rocks of Antarctica and other areas. Journal of Petrology: 21: 39-68.

    Arculus, R.J., Dawson, J.B., Mitchell, R.H., Gust, D.A., and Holmes, R.D. (1984) Oxidation states of the upper mantle recorded by megacryst ilmenite in kimberlite and type A and B spinel Iherzolites. Contri butions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 85: 85-94.

    Mineralogical Journal (Japan)(1989): 14: 179.

    Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1995) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume II. Silica, Silicates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 904pp., 2 volumes: 264.

    Internet Links for Ilmenite

    Search Engines:
  • Look for Ilmenite on Google
  • Look for Ilmenite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Ilmenite on Webmineral
  • Look for Ilmenite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Ilmenite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Ilmenite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Ilmenite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Ilmenite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Find Ilmenite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Ilmenite

    Show Locality List (2813 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.