Iron Ore Minerals
The Iron ore minerals are summarized in the following table:
| Iron ore Minerals | Chemical composition | %Fe | Specific Gravity (g/cm3) | Hardness | Crystallization | Colour |
| Oxides: | ||||||
| Magnetite | Fe3O4 | 72.4 | 4.5-5.3 | 5.5-6.5 | Octahedrons | Black |
| Hematite | Fe2O3 | 69.94 | 5.2 | 5 to 6 | Hexagonal Rhomohedral | Red and brownish black |
| Martite | Fe2O3 | 70 | 4.8-5.3 | 6 to 7 | Octahedrons | Black |
| Maghemite | Fe2O3 | 69 | - | 5 | Isometric Massive | Brown |
| Ilmenit | FeTiO3 | 36.8 Fe 31.6-Ti | 4.7 | 5.5-6.7 | Hexagonal Rhombic | Iron black to bronish black |
| Hydrous Oxides: | ||||||
| Goethite | FeO(OH) | 62.9 | 4.3 | 5 to 5.5 | Ortho-rhombic | Yellowish brown to dark brown |
| Lepidocrcite | FeO(OH) | 62.9 | 4 | 5 | Ortho-rhombic | Red to reddish brown |
| Limonite | FeO(OH)nH2O | Variable 52.3 -66.3 | 2.7 -4.3 | Variable 4 to 11/2 | - | Brown and yellow |
| Turgite | 2Fe2O3.H2O(variable H2O | 40-50 | 4.2-4.7 | 2 to 4 | Amorphous | Reddish black to dark red |
| Carbonates: | ||||||
| Siderite | FeCO3 | 43.2 | 3.8 | 3.5-4 | Rhombic | Light to dark brown |
| Sulphides: | ||||||
| Pyrite | FeS2 | 46.6 | 5 | 5 to 6.5 | Isometric | Brass yellow |
| Pyrrhoite | Fe1-xS | 57-63.5 | 4.6 | 3.5-4.5 | Hexagonal | Bronze yellow |