Usually magnesium is present in chromite substituting for the iron and in fact a solid solution series exists between chromite and the much rarer mineral magnesiochromite . All chromite specimens in nature contain some magnesium, likewise all natural magnesiochromites contain some iron. Magnesiochromite is grayer in color and in streak and has a slightly lower density than chromite at a specific gravity of 4.2 to 4.4. Color is brownish black to a deep dark black. Luster is metallic to greasy.
Crystals are opaque.
Well formed crystals are rare and chromite is usually found massive or granular. Cleavage is absent. Fracture is conchoidal. Streak is brown. Weakly magnetic and an octahedral parting is sometimes seen.