How do I identify Magnesiochromite?

Magnesiochromite can be identified by its hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale, Black color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Magnesiochromite?

Magnesiochromite typically appears in Black, deep red. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Magnesiochromite?

Magnesiochromite has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Magnesiochromite

A variety of Minerals

What is Magnesiochromite?

Chromite is a crystalline mineral composed primarily of iron(II) oxide and chromium(III) oxide compounds. It can be represented by the chemical formula of FeCr2O4. It is an oxide mineral belonging to the spinel group. The element magnesium can substitute for iron in variable amounts as it forms a solid solution with magnesiochromite (MgCr2O4). A substitution of the element aluminium can also occur, leading to hercynite (FeAl2O4). Chromite today is mined particularly to make stainless steel through the production of ferrochrome (FeCr), which is an iron-chromium alloy. Chromite grains are commonly found in large mafic igneous intrusions such as the Bushveld in South Africa and India. Chromite is iron-black in color with a metallic luster, a dark brown streak and a hardness on the Mohs scale of 5.5. The chromium extracted from chromite has a lot of benefits when it comes to its uses and applications. The use of chromium in anthropogenic processes can develop considerable health and environmental impacts around the world.

Uses & Applications

Chromite can be used as a refractory material, because it has a high heat stability. The chromium extracted from chromite is used in chrome plating and alloying for production of corrosion resistant superalloys, nichrome, and stainless steel. Chromium is used as a pigment for glass, glazes, and paint, and as an oxidizing agent for tanning leather. It is also sometimes used as a gemstone. Usually known as chrome, it is a very essential industrial metal. It is hard and resistant to corrosion. This is used for things such as nonferrous allots, the production of stainless steel, chemicals that process leather, and the creation of pigments. Stainless steel usually contains about 18 percent of chromium. The chromium in the stainless steel is the material which hardens making it resilient to corrosion. A lot of car design like decorations are chromium plated. Superalloys that contain chromium allow jet engines to run under high-high stress, in a chemically oxidizing environment, and in high-temperature situations.

Magnesiochromite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Magnesiochromite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Magnesiochromite Localities Map

See where Magnesiochromite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Magnesiochromite

Chromite minerals are mainly found in mafic-ultramafic igneous intrusions and are also sometimes found in metamorphic rocks. The chromite minerals occur in layered formations that can be hundreds of kilometres long and a few meters thick. Chromite is also common in iron meteorites and form in association with silicates and troilite minerals.

Composition of Magnesiochromite

The chemical composition of chromite can be represented as FeCr2O4, with the iron in the +2 oxidation state and the chromium in the +3 oxidation state. Chromite, when presented as an ore, or in massive form, forms as fine granular aggregates. The structure of the ore can be seen as platy, with breakages along planes of weakness. Chromite can also be presented in a thin section. The grains seen in thin sections are disseminated with crystals that are euhedral to subhedral. Chromite contains Mg, ferrous iron [Fe(II)], Al and trace amounts of Ti. Chromite can change into different minerals based on the amounts of each element in the mineral. When chromite varies in composition, it causes a thermal transformation behaviour. Chromite is a part of the spinel group, which means that it is able to form a complete solid solution series with other members in the same group. These include minerals such as chenmingite (FeCr2O4), xieite (FeCr2O4), magnesiochromite (MgCr2O4) and magnetite (FeFe2O4). Chenmingite and xieite are polymorphs of chromite while magnesiochromite and magnetite are isostructural with chromite.