Ilmenite: Ore Magnetite
Ilmenite: Ore Magnetite
Ilmenite: Ore Magnetite
It is similar in
appearance to magnetite, but has a different crystal form and if it is magnetic then it's not as strongly so as magnetite. It will become magnetic when heated. Ilmenite is a common accessory mineral in many igneous rocks and also found as a detrital mineral (in sands). Chemical composition - FeTiO3 Hardness - 5-6 Specific gravity - 4.5-5 Transparency - Opaque Colour - Black Streak - Black Lustre - Metallic Cleavage/fracture - Non-existent / conchoidal Crystal habit/mode of occurrence Tabular (thin and thick tabular crystals with rhombohedral truncations, sometimes formed into rosettes) /massive and granular, as grains in some sands
hematite (specularite)
hematite (oolitic)
magnetite
Galena is the major ore of lead, and has been mined and worked since
ancient times, e.g. the Romans used lead for weights, coins, vases, plumbing. Galena, a sulphide mineral, contains up to 86% lead, and may contain up to 1% silver. The large volume of galena that is processed for lead produces enough silver as a by-product to also make galena the leading ore of silver. Galena is a natural semiconductor at room temperature. Galena can be found in hydrothermal veins, as irregular masses in limestones, in zones of contact metamorphism, and disseminated in igneous and sedimentary rocks. Chemical composition - PbS Hardness - 2.5 Specific gravity - 7.5 Transparency - Opaque Colour - Lead grey to silver grey Streak - Lead grey Lustre - Metallic (brighter on cleavage surfaces than on crystal faces) Cleavage/fracture - Perfect in 3 directions forming cubes / uneven (rare due to perfect cleavage) Crystal habit/mode of occurrence Prismatic (cube, octahedron) / massive, granular