Ilmenite is the primary ore of titanium and has the chemical formula FeTiO₃.
It is an iron–titanium oxide that commonly forms as an accessory mineral in igneous rocks, especially gabbro and anorthosite. Ilmenite is also concentrated in heavy-mineral beach sands because its density helps it survive transport and settling.
Titanium is extracted from ilmenite to make titanium dioxide, a bright white pigment used in paints, plastics, paper, and sunscreen. Ilmenite is not the same mineral as rutile, another important titanium ore with the formula TiO₂.
The name comes from the Ilmen Mountains of Russia, where it was identified in the nineteenth century. Its black or brownish-black appearance can cause confusion with magnetite, but ilmenite is generally less magnetic.