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What is it and where is it formed?
Magnetite is a
mineral that is formed in
metamorphic,
igneous, and
sedimentary rocks. |
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How and where is it mined?
Magnetite is mined using
underground mining. It is found
in: Austria, Switzerland, South Africa, and the United
States [Franklin, New Jersey, Utah, Arkansas, Vermont]. |
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What is it used for?
Magnetite is used to make steel, magnets, paints, ink,
paper, and cosmetics. |
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Mineral Characteristic |
What the
mineralogists say |
Kid's Guide: What it REALLY
means! |
| Chemical Symbol |
Fe3O4 |
It
has iron and oxygen in it. |
| Color |
Black, gray, brown |
These are the most common colors for magnetite. |
| Streak |
Black |
If
you crush this, its dust would always be black. |
| Transparency |
Opaque |
You
can’t see through its crystals. |
| Luster |
Metallic |
It
shines like glass. |
| Cleavage |
None |
If
you hit this with a hammer, it will not break evenly. |
| Fracture |
Uneven |
If
this mineral is shattered, it doesn’t have a pattern.
Some pieces might be jagged, and some smooth. It will
be different each time a piece breaks. It is brittle
which means it breaks easily. |
| Magnetism |
Yes |
It
is strongly attracted to magnets. |
| Hardness |
5.5
– 6.5 |
It
is average in hardness. |
| Specific gravity |
5
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It
is average in weight. |
| Crystal Shape |
Octahedral |
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Superstitious people believed that Magnetite gives a person more energy
and takes away fear and bad feelings. |
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Links:
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Magnetite + Sphalerite |
Citations:
Fuller,
Sue. Rocks & Minerals. London: Dorling Kindersley,
1995.
“Iron Ore:
Hematite, Magnetite & Taconite.” 21 Oct. 2005. <http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photoiron.html>. |
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