ilmenneita

Ilmenite is a titanium-iron oxide mineral with the chemical formula FeTiO3. It is a significant source of titanium, a metal with high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance, making it valuable in various industrial applications. Ilmenite is typically black or dark gray in color and has a metallic luster. It crystallizes in the trigonal system and often occurs as massive, granular, or lamellar aggregates. The mineral is named after its type locality, Ilmen Lake in the Ural Mountains, Russia.

Ilmenite is primarily found in igneous rocks, such as gabbro and diorite, and in heavy mineral sands. It is also a common accessory mineral in many types of igneous rocks. The mineral is often associated with other titanium-bearing minerals, such as rutile and anatase. Ilmenite is mined for its titanium content, which is used in the production of titanium dioxide, a white pigment used in paints, coatings, and plastics. The titanium dioxide is produced through the chlorination process, which involves heating ilmenite with chlorine gas to produce titanium tetrachloride, followed by the reaction of titanium tetrachloride with oxygen to produce titanium dioxide.

Ilmenite is also used as a source of iron and as a flux in metallurgy. It is sometimes used as a gemstone, known as "black diamond," due to its dark color and high refractive index. However, its use as a gemstone is relatively rare due to its hardness and the fact that it is often found in impure form. Ilmenite is an important mineral in the global economy, with significant deposits found in countries such as Australia, Canada, China, India, and Norway.