Chromite

Chromite is a powerful stone that protects the mind, body and spirit. It allows for greater perceptiveness and self-awareness as well as encouraging strong will and fortitude. It is believed to help one overcome emotional stress and enhance analytic skills while dealing with unpleasant situations. It may be helpful for both professional and personal relationships.

Chromite has a metallic luster that some find interesting for cut stones, but they are not popular as this material is common and not considered particularly valuable. Reddish stones are more rare and may fetch a higher price. Chromite is unlikely to be imitated due to its abundance and inexpensiveness.

Chromite has many uses but is primarily utilized as ore for chromium. It is also used as a refractory for the production of steel, copper, glass, and cement. Both chromite and chromium are used to manufacture stainless steel and produce other alloys. Their chemicals are used in pigments, photography, and plating.

The chemical composition of chromite can be represented as FeCr2O4. Chromite, when presented as an ore, or in massive form, forms as fine granular aggregates. The structure of the ore can be seen as platy, with breakages along planes of weakness. Chromite can also be presented in a thin section. The grains seen in thin sections are disseminated with crystals that are euhedral to subhedral. Chromite contains Mg, ferrous iron [Fe(II)], Al and trace amounts of Ti. Chromite can change into different minerals based on the amounts of each element in the mineral. When chromite varies in composition, it causes a thermal transformation behaviour. Chromite is a part of the spinel group, which means that it is able to form a complete solid solution series with other members in the same group. These include minerals such as chenmingite (FeCr2O4), xieite (FeCr2O4), magnesiochromite (MgCr2O4) and magnetite (FeFe2O4). Chenmingite and xieite are polymorphs of chromite while magnesiochromite and magnetite are isostructural with chromite.