What is "magnetite" used for? ASAP HELP?

Answer 1

THE MINERAL MAGNETITE
Chemical Formula: Fe3O4, Iron Oxide
Class: Oxides and Hydroxides
Group: Spinel
Uses: Major ore of iron and as mineral specimens
Specimens :
Magnetite is a natural magnet, hence the name, giving it a very nice distinguishing characteristic. Explaining the magnetism is not easy but here is a go at it. Remember, electricity produces magnetic fields just as magnetism produces electic fields. Magnetite is a member of the spinel group which has the standard formula A(B)2O4. The A and B represent usually different metal ions that occupy specific sites in the crystal structure. In the case of magnetite, Fe3O4, the A metal is Fe +2 and the B metal is Fe +3; two different metal ions in two specific sites. This arrangement causes a transfer of electrons between the different irons in a structured path or vector. This electric vector generates the magnetic field.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is black.
Luster is metallic to dull.
Transparency: Crystals are opaque.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits are typically octahedrons but rarely rhombododecahedron and other isometric forms, most commonly found massive or granular. Twinning of octahedrons into spinel law twins is seen occassionally.
Cleavage is absent although octahedral parting can be seen on some specimens.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5.5 - 6.5
Specific Gravity is 5.1+ (average for metallic minerals)
Streak is black.
Associated Minerals are talc and chlorite (schists), pyrite and hematite.
Other Characteristics: Magnetism stronger in massive examples than in crystals, striations on crystal faces (not always seen).
Notable Occurrences include South Africa, Germany, Russia and many locallities in the USA.
Best Field Indicators are magnetism, crystal habit and streak.

Answer 2

Magnetite has been very important in understanding the conditions under which rocks form and evolve. Magnetite reacts with oxygen to produce hematite, and the mineral pair forms a buffer that can control oxygen fugacity. Commonly igneous rocks contain grains of two solid solutions, one between magnetite and ulvospinel and the other between ilmenite and hematite. Compositions of the mineral pairs are used to calculate how oxidizing was the magma (i.e., the oxygen fugacity of the magma): a range of oxidizing conditions are found in magmas and the oxidation state helps to determine how the magmas might evolve by fractional crystallization.

Answer 3

Magnetite or loadstone was used in ancient times as a compass. It was hung by a string and would point North and South like any magnet.

Answer 4

Magnetite is used to make steel, magnets, paints, ink, paper, and cosmetics.

Answer 5

Wow, what an interesting question.

Magnetite is used as iron ore and it is used to make ferrofluids, which are friction-reducing fluids used in many specialized areas, including computers.

Follow the Wiki links below--you probably won't understand all of it, but you will understand enough to answer your question.