Properties of Magnetite

Magnetite is a type of iron ore and a naturally occurring magnetic mineral. It is composed of iron(II) and iron(III) oxide (Fe3O4) and is one of the main sources of iron for the steel industry.

Image of magnetite mineral
Credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com - CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The following table provides a comprehensive list of magnetite properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

Note: click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.

Table of Magnetite Properties
Physical Properties
Metric
Chemical FormulaFe3O4
Molar Mass231.538 g/mol
Crystal SystemCubic
Mohs Hardness5.5 - 6.5
Density5170 - 5200 kg/m3
ColorBlack
DiaphaneityOpaque
LusterMetallic
CleavageNone
FractureSubconchoidal
StreakBlack
Electrical PropertiesMetric
Electrical Resistivity5.6×10-7 Ω·m
Optical PropertiesMetric
Refractive Index (nD)2.42

Note: unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

Related Pages
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017.