Chromite

Chromite is the most important ore of chromium from which it derives its name. Chromium is an important metal and
has a wide range of industrial uses.
Chromite forms in deep ultra-mafic magmas and is one of the first minerals to crystallize. It is because of this fact that
chromite is found in some concentrated ore bodies. While the magma is slowly cooling inside the Earth's crust,
chromite crsytals are forming and because of their density, fall to the bottom and are concentrated there.
Although its primary origin is ultra-mafic rocks such as peridotites, chromite is also found in metamorphic rocks such
as serpentites. Chromite, as is indicated by its early crystallization is resistant to the altering affects of high
temperatures and pressures. Thus it is capable of going through the metamorphic processes unscathed, while other
minerals around it are being altered to serpentine, biotite and garnets. This characteristic also explains chromites use
as a refractory component in the bricks and linings of blast furnaces.
Usually magnesium is present in chromite substituting for the iron and in fact a solid solution series exists between
chromite and the much rarer mineral magnesiochromite. All chromite specimens in nature contain some magnesium,
likewise all natural magnesiochromites contain some iron. Magnesiochromite is grayer in color and in streak and has
a slightly lower density than chromite at a specific gravity of 4.2 to 4.4.
Hardnes
s

Associated Chemical/Typical
Minerals
composition

5.5

olivine
talc
serpentine
uvarovite
pyroxenes
biotite
magnetite
anorthite

Oxides and
Hydroxides

Colour

characteristics

Luster

Field Indicators

brownish
black to a
deep dark
black

Weakly magnetic
and an octahedral
parting is
sometimes seen

metallic crystal habit,

to
streak,
greasy associations with
ultra-basic
minerals and
parting

Uses
The following uses for chromium are gathered from a number of sources as well as from anecdotal comments. I'd be
delighted to receive corrections as well as additional referenced uses (please use the feedback mechanism to add
uses).

used to harden steel, to manufacture stainless steel, and to form alloys

used in plating to produce a hard, beautiful surface and to prevent corrosion.

used to give glass an emerald green colour. It is responsible for the green colour of emeralds and the red
colour of rubies
wide use as a catalyst
dichromates such as K2Cr2O7 are oxidising agents and are used in quantitative analysis and also in tanning
leather

lead chromate as chrome yellow is a pigment

compounds are used in the textile industry as mordants

used by the aircraft and other industries for anodising aluminium

the refractory industry uses chromite for forming bricks and shapes, as it has a high melting point, moderate
thermal expansion, and stable crystalline structure
tanning leather