The facts
What ilmenite actually is
The species behind ilmenite is ilmenite group, FeTiO₃; it forms in the trigonal system.
Fe²⁺–Ti⁴⁺ in an opaque oxide; black with submetallic lustre is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a specific gravity of about 4.70–4.79, with none; rhombohedral parting cleavage.
Where ilmenite comes from
Commercial material comes from Kragerø, Norway, Miass, Ilmen Mountains, Russia and Froland, Norway.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How ilmenite is treated
Untreated. Principally the world's titanium ore; collected for crystal form and as the source of the rutile silk that makes star corundum.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What ilmenite is confused with
Watch for Magnetite, Hematite and Chromite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
Because the material is opaque, refractive index is no help. Specific gravity around 4.70–4.79, hardness of 5–6, streak and magnification do the work instead.
What ilmenite is used for
The trades that buy ilmenite are mineral collecting, heavy industry and metallurgy. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the tonne.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6; cleavage none; rhombohedral parting. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What ilmenite costs
Expect roughly Crystals $10–$200, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is ilmenite treated, and how?
Untreated. Principally the world's titanium ore; collected for crystal form and as the source of the rutile silk that makes star corundum.
Where does ilmenite come from?
Kragerø, Norway, Miass, Ilmen Mountains, Russia and Froland, Norway. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is ilmenite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does ilmenite cost?
Indicatively Crystals $10–$200. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is ilmenite confused with?
Most often Magnetite, Hematite and Chromite. Since the material is opaque, separation relies on specific gravity near 4.70–4.79, hardness and magnification.
What is ilmenite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, heavy industry and metallurgy. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for ilmenite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about ilmenite