Difference Between Ilmenite and Perovskite

The key difference between ilmenite and perovskite is that ilmenite is an iron-based titanium oxide mineral while perovskite is a calcium-based titanium oxide mineral.

Both ilmenite and perovskite are oxide minerals. We can find these minerals in nature as crystalline solid substances. There are some differences between these minerals based on the chemical structure, appearance, magnetic properties, etc.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ilmenite 
3. What is Perovskite
4. Similarities Between Ilmenite and Perovskite
5. Side by Side Comparison – Ilmenite vs Perovskite in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Ilmenite?

Ilmenite is an oxide mineral having the chemical formula FeTiO3. It is a titanium-iron oxide mineral. Ilmenite is weakly magnetic and appears as a black or steel-grey solid. Commercially, ilmenite is the most important titanium ore. This is because it is the main source of titanium dioxide that is useful in the production of paints, printing inks, fabrics, plastics, paper, sunscreen, food, and cosmetics.

The crystal system of ilmenite is trigonal. The crystal habit of this material can be described as granular to massive. The fracture of ilmenite can be described as conchoidal. It is a brittle material with Mohs scale hardness ranging from 5 to 6. It has a metallic luster, but the streak color is black. Ilmenite is an opaque material.

Generally, ilmenite is obtained through mining the ore. Ilmenite is mined mainly for the production of titanium dioxide, which has many applications, including the manufacture of titanium metal. Moreover, ilmenite easily converts into its pigment form via sulfate process or chloride process. We can also convert it into liquid iron and titanium-rich slag via smelting process.

What is Perovskite?

Perovskite is an oxide mineral having the chemical formula CaTiO3. It is a calcium-based titanium oxide mineral having a metallic appearance. The crystal system of this material is orthorhombic. Perovskite appears as a black, reddish-brown or pale yellow substance. The crystal habit of this mineral can be defined as pseudo-cubic structure. The fracture of this mineral is conchoidal.

The Mohs scale hardness of perovskite mineral is about 5.0. This substance has an adamantine luster with a grayish white mineral streak color. It sometimes occurs as a transparent material, but it can be opaque due to impurities. This material is non-magnetic and non-radioactive.

What are the Similarities Between Ilmenite and Perovskite?

• Ilmenite and perovskite are titanium-containing oxide minerals.
• We can find these minerals in nature as crystalline solid substances.

What is the Difference Between Ilmenite and Perovskite?

The key difference between ilmenite and perovskite is that ilmenite is an iron-based titanium oxide mineral while perovskite is a calcium-based titanium oxide mineral. Moreover, another significant difference between ilmenite and perovskite is that ilmenite is a weak magnetic, while perovskite is a non-magnetic material. In addition to these, ilmenite appears as a black or steel-grey solid while the color of perovskite differs according to other chemical elements present in the mineral. In fact, Perovskite can appear in black, reddish-brown or pale yellow.

Furthermore, ilmenite has a metallic luster, but the streak color is black. It is an opaque material. However, perovskite has an adamantine luster with a grayish white mineral streak color. Usually, it is either transparent or opaque.

The following infographic summarizes the differences between ilmenite and perovskite in tabular form.

Summary – Ilmenite vs Perovskite

Ilmenite and perovskite are titanium-containing oxide minerals. The key difference between ilmenite and perovskite is that ilmenite is an iron-based titanium oxide mineral while perovskite is a calcium-based titanium oxide mineral.

Reference:

1. “Ilmenite.” Geology, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Ilmenite-155036” By Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com (CC-BY-SA-3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Perovskite-155026” By Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com  (CC-BY-SA-3.0) via Commons Wikimedia