ilmenite

[ il-muh-nahyt ]

noun

1. a very common black mineral, iron titanate, FeTiO 3 , occurring in crystals but more commonly massive.

ilmenite

/ ˈɪlmɪˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a black mineral found in igneous rocks as layered deposits and in veins. It is the chief source of titanium. Composition: iron titanium oxide. Formula: FeTiO 3 . Crystal structure: hexagonal (rhombohedral)

ilmenite

/ ĭl′mə-nīt′ /

1. A lustrous black to brownish rhombohedral mineral that is an ore of titanium. Ilmenite occurs in igneous rocks and is one of the principal dark minerals observed in beach sands. Chemical formula: FeTiO 3 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of ilmenite¹

1820–30; after the Ilmen Mountains ( Russian Ilʾménskie góry ) in the southern Urals, where it was first identified; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ilmenite¹

C19: from Ilmen, mountain range in the southern Urals, Russia, + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The iron oxides, originally ilmenite, are usually altered to sphene.

From Project Gutenberg

Ilmenite has sometimes been mistaken in the South African mines for carbonado.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the accessory minerals may be mentioned apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, picotite and garnet.

From Project Gutenberg

Ilmenite has a black streak; it is opaque, but in very thin scales sometimes transparent with a clove-brown colour.

From Project Gutenberg

The principal titanium minerals are rutile (titanium oxide) and ilmenite (iron titanate).

From Project Gutenberg