magnetite

American  

[mag-ni-tahyt] / ˈmæg nɪˌtaɪt /

noun

1. a very common black iron oxide mineral, Fe 3 O 4 , that is strongly attracted by magnets: an important iron ore.

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magnetite British  

/ ˈmæɡnɪˌtaɪt, ˌmæɡnɪˈtɪtɪk /

noun

1. a black magnetic mineral, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and as a separate deposit. It is a source of iron. Composition: iron oxide. Formula: Fe 3 O 4 . Crystal structure: cubic

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magnetite Scientific  

/ măg′nĭ-tīt′ /

1. A brown to black mineral that is strongly magnetic. It crystallizes in the cubic system and commonly occurs as small octahedrons. Magnetite occurs in many different types of rock and is an important source of iron. Chemical formula: Fe ₃ O ₄ .

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• magnetitic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of magnetite

1850–55; magnet + -ite ¹; compare German Magnetit

Example Sentences

Magnetite, a tiny particle found in air pollution, can induce signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

Magnetite is a common enough mineral, but the grains inside the globules were very unusual.

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2020

Magnetite, like a compass needle, responds to a field’s direction, whereas cryptochrome would respond identically to fields with opposite polarity.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 18, 2019

Magnetite is strongly attracted to magnets and can be magnetized.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Magnetite appears to occur in all of them.

From Etna A History of the Mountain and of its Eruptions by Rodwell, G. F.