When pure, iron is lustrous, and soft (workable). Most
important of all metals, used principally as steel alloys. Rusts in damp air,
dissolves in dilute acids.
Diagnostic tests:
The borax bead test in the oxidizing flame gives yellow to brownish red
color while hot and is colorless to yellow when cold. Reducing flame gives
a bottle green color.
A magnetic mass is obtained if the mineral is powdered, mixed with soda
(Na2CO3), and fused in a reducing flame (Note,
cobalt and nickel also yield magnetic masses).
In solution, iron will precipitate as Fe(OH)3 when excess
amounts of NH4OH are added.
References
Emsley, J., 1991; THE ELEMENTS : Sec. Ed.,
Clarendon Press, Oxford, 251 p.
(* - Mineral Name Is Not IMA Approved)
(! - New Dana classification added or changed from Danas New Mineralogy)
(? - IMA Discredited Mineral Species Name)
There are 1424 minerals with Fe in the Mineralogy Database.