Iron(II,III) oxide

Iron(II,III) oxide, Fe₃O₄, is a mixed-valence compound containing iron(II) and iron(III) ions. It occurs naturally as the mineral magnetite and is ferrimagnetic at room temperature.

Magnetite: A naturally occurring iron oxide mineral with the formula Fe₃O₄. This mineral is the naturally occurring form of iron(II,III) oxide.
Verwey transition: A sharp change in magnetite's electrical and structural properties near 120 kelvin. It marks the low-temperature reorganization of charge and crystal structure in magnetite.
Magnetic separation: A method that separates materials by exploiting differences in their response to magnetic fields. Magnetite can be recovered from mixtures because it is strongly magnetic.
Wüstite: A nonstoichiometric iron(II) oxide, typically written Fe₁₋ₓO. Wüstite contains predominantly iron(II), unlike magnetite's mixed iron valence.
Lodestone: Naturally magnetized magnetite capable of attracting iron. Some magnetite deposits occur as lodestone, a naturally magnetic form.
Iron(II): The iron ion with a +2 oxidation state. Iron(II) oxide contains this oxidation state alongside iron(III).
Ferrimagnetism: Magnetic order in which opposing sublattice moments have unequal magnitudes, leaving a net magnetization. Unequal opposing iron sublattices give magnetite its strong net magnetization.
Heavy media separation: A mineral-processing method that sorts particles by density in a controlled-density suspension. Ground magnetite forms dense suspensions used to separate coal and ores.
Hematite: A mineral form of iron(III) oxide, Fe₂O₃. Hematite contains iron(III) rather than magnetite's combination of iron(II) and iron(III).
Magnetotactic bacteria: Bacteria that orient along magnetic fields using intracellular magnetic mineral crystals. Many species build magnetite crystals to navigate along Earth's magnetic field.

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