Chromite ore specific weight: density and weight of 1 m³

Chromite ores are natural mineral raw materials containing chromium in industrial concentrations. Such ores are usually based on minerals of the chromespinelide group, including chromite and compositionally related varieties. Many natural chromium compounds are known, but only raw material with enough chromium for profitable mining and processing is considered industrial ore.

Depending on composition, the following are distinguished:

• chromite itself, rarely found in nature in pure form, FeCr2O4, chromium content over 46%;
• alumochromite Fe(Cr, Al)2O4, chromium content over 37%;
• magnochromite (Mg, Fe)Cr2O4, over 42%;
• chrompicotite (Mg, Fe)(Cr, Al)2O4, over 33%.

The chemical composition of the above groups is heterogeneous, and the Cr2O3 content in them can vary greatly. Therefore, depending on the percentage content of this compound, chromite ores are divided into types, or grades:

• less than 40%;
• 40-45%;
• 45-50%;
• more than 50%.

Specific weight of chromite ores

The density of chromite ores depends on composition and grade. For low-grade ores, the approximate value may be within 3.8-4.0 g/cm³, and for high-grade ores about 4.3-4.6 g/cm³. The density of some chrome spinels can reach 5 or more g/cm³.

Use: extraction of chromium for manufacturing chemicals, paints and for the ferroalloy industry.

Chromite

A chromium-bearing rock mineral of iron-black color with brown shades. It has metallic luster and weak magnetic properties.

The rock is of magmatic origin and occurs with serpentinite and other ferruginous silicates. Large accumulations of chromites are very profitable to develop. Such deposits exist in South Africa, Kazakhstan, India and other countries.

Density is 4.5-4.8 g/cm³. Hardness is 5.5.

Alumochromite

A black chromium-bearing mineral of granular structure; in thin fragments it shows a red tint. It belongs to oxides and contains ferrous oxides, manganese, aluminum oxide, iron, nickel, titanium, vanadium and some other elements. The mineral has a metallic greasy luster, uneven fracture and brown streak.

The specific weight of alumochromite is 4.5-4.8 g/cm³. Hardness is 5.8-6.

Chrompicotite

A brownish-black mineral of granular, less often crystalline form, with a brown streak and metallic or greasy luster. The fracture is uneven and brittle. Crystals are octahedral. In deposits it occurs with the associated mineral serpentinite.

Chrompicotite density is 4.5-4.8 g/cm³. Hardness is 5.5-7.5.

Magnochromite

In appearance, it differs little from other chrome spinels, but has one distinguishing characteristic: unlike the minerals described above, the streak of magnochromite is not brownish but brown.

The specific weight of magnochromite is 4.2-5.1 g/cm³. Hardness is 5.5-7.

Chromite ores are natural mineral raw materials containing chromium in industrial concentrations. Such ores are usually based on minerals of the chromespinelide group, including chromite and compositionally related varieties. Many natural chromium compounds are known, but only raw material with enough chromium for profitable mining and processing is considered industrial ore.

It is not correct to give one universal melting point for chromite ore: it is not a pure substance, but a natural mixture of chromian spinels and associated minerals. In practical calculations, density, Cr2O3 content, refractoriness, grain size and the requirements of the specific production process are more important.