magnetite

[ mag-ni-tahyt ]

noun

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

magnetite

/ 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

magnetite

/ 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 .

Derived Forms

• magnetitic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnetite¹

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

Example Sentences

Those shifts show whether the rocks contain minerals like magnetite, and radiometric data measures substances like uranium, thorium, and potassium.

From Popular-Science

In the more basic phases anhedrons of augite and of olivine appear, and magnetite grains are usually present.

From Project Gutenberg

Magnetite or magnetic iron ore, specular iron, and limonite are also oxides of iron.

From Project Gutenberg

Serpentine often contains it, when it is apt to resemble a fine-grained magnetite.

From Project Gutenberg

It chiefly occurs as oxide, as in magnetite, hæmatite, and in the brown iron ores and ochres.

From Project Gutenberg

Deposits of iron ore accumulated in the several ways referred to above may be metamorphosed and changed to hematite and magnetite.

From Project Gutenberg