Definition

Noun: 1. A black, weakly magnetic mineral: Ilmenite is a naturally occurring, heavy, opaque mineral that is typically black or iron-black in color. It exhibits weak magnetism. 2. An iron titanium oxide: Its chemical composition is iron titanium oxide (FeTiO₃). It is the primary ore mineral for the metal titanium. 3. A mineral found in specific rock types: It is commonly found in metamorphic rocks (rocks changed by heat and pressure) and plutonic rocks (coarse-grained igneous rocks formed from magma that cooled slowly deep within the Earth).

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The beach sands were rich in ilmenite, giving them a distinctive dark color.
  • Miners extract ilmenite to be processed for its titanium content.
  • Geologists identified the black grains in the rock sample as ilmenite.

Advanced Usage

• Industrial Source: In technical and industrial contexts, "ilmenite" is specifically named as the most important source for titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment, which is used in paints, plastics, and paper.
  • The global demand for ilmenite is driven by the paint and coatings industry.

Variants and Related Words

• Titanium (n): The strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant metallic element (Ti) that is derived from ilmenite.
• Rutile (n): Another important mineral (TiO₂) that is a source of titanium, often found in association with ilmenite but with a different crystal structure and higher titanium content.

Synonyms

• Iron titanium oxide: The chemical name for the mineral.
• Titanium ore: A functional description of its primary economic use.

Noun

1. a weakly magnetic black mineral found in metamorphic and plutonic rocks; an iron titanium oxide in crystalline form; a source of titanium