Comparison · Oxide Minerals vs Minerals
Ilmenite vs Magnetite
Ilmenite and Magnetite are easy to confuse. Both sit near Mohs 5.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their properties and the quick tests that separate them.
Key differences between Ilmenite and Magnetite
- Both sit near Mohs 5.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
- Streak color differs: Ilmenite leaves a black to brownish red streak on unglazed porcelain, Magnetite leaves black.
- Both look metallic, so compare color, tarnish and weight rather than shine.
- Hold a thin edge to the light: Ilmenite is opaque, Magnetite is Opaque.
- They overlap in black, but Ilmenite also comes in brown and Magnetite also comes in gray.
- Well-formed crystals give it away: Ilmenite is trigonal, Magnetite is Cubic.
Ilmenite vs Magnetite properties
| Property | Ilmenite | Magnetite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Oxide Minerals | Minerals |
| Mohs hardness | 5.5 | 5.5–6.5 |
| Luster | metallic | Metallic to submetallic/dull |
| Streak | Black to brownish red | Black |
| Transparency | opaque | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 4.7 | 5.17–5.2 |
| Crystal system | trigonal | Cubic |
| Common colors | Black, Iron-black, Brownish black | Black, Iron-black, Gray-black |
| Rarity | common | common |
| Typical specimen value | $5–$200+ | $2–$150+ |
Which is more valuable?
Ilmenite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $35 against $20 for Magnetite, and premium Ilmenite can reach $200 or more.
About Ilmenite
Ilmenite is an iron titanium oxide and the most important ore of titanium. It typically forms black, weakly magnetic, metallic to submetallic grains and tabular crystals in igneous rocks and heavy mineral sands.
About Magnetite
Magnetite is an iron oxide mineral, Fe3O4, crystallizing in the cubic system and the most strongly magnetic naturally occurring mineral on Earth, capable of attracting steel objects and even acting as a natural compass in its lodestone form. It forms in a remarkably wide range of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments, making it one of the most common accessory minerals in rock-forming systems worldwide. Ancient sailors and travelers used naturally magnetized lodestone, a variety of magnetite, as the earliest known compasses.
Ilmenite vs Magnetite FAQ
Is Ilmenite the same as Magnetite?
No. Ilmenite is a oxide mineral while Magnetite is a mineral. Both sit near Mohs 5.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
How can you tell Ilmenite from Magnetite?
Both sit near Mohs 5.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Streak color differs: Ilmenite leaves a black to brownish red streak on unglazed porcelain, Magnetite leaves black. Both look metallic, so compare color, tarnish and weight rather than shine.
Which is harder, Ilmenite or Magnetite?
Magnetite is harder: Mohs 5.5–6.5 against Mohs 5.5 for Ilmenite.
Which is more valuable, Ilmenite or Magnetite?
Ilmenite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $35 against $20 for Magnetite, and premium Ilmenite can reach $200 or more.
