Class : Oxides and hydroxides
    Subclass : Oxides
    Crystal system : Cubic
    Chemistry : Fe₂O₃
    Rarity : Quite common

This iron oxide, dimorphic from hematite, forms at low temperature in the oxidized surface zones of metal deposits. Maghemite comes from the oxidation of magnetite at low temperature or more rarely from the dehydration of lepidocrocite ; there is also a series of intermediate terms with magnetite of which it has the crystalline structure and strong magnetism. Its name is composed of the words magnetite and hematite, emphasizing the latter characteristic. Maghemite is a relatively common mineral constituting brown-black grainy to powdery masses, without clear crystals expressed (except in exceptional cases). It is an iron ore exploited at the same time as magnetite.

Main photo : Alluvial maghemite from the Carapooee gold mine, Victoria, Australia © Judy Rowe

No twin known for this mineral species, but can replace magnetite octahedra (pseudomorph).

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.