page_title: Chromite
section_title: Stainless steel manufacturing
hierarchical_section_title: Chromite / Applications / Stainless steel manufacturing
caption_attribution_description: English: DIY Heat Press
context_page_description: Chromite is a mineral that is an iron chromium oxide. It has a chemical formula of FeCr₂O₄. It is an oxide mineral belonging to the spinel group. The element magnesium can substitute for iron in variable amounts as it forms a solid solution with magnesiochromite. A substitution of the element aluminium can also occur, leading to hercynite. Chromite today is mined particularly to make stainless steel through the production of ferrochrome, which is an iron-chromium alloy.
  Chromite grains are commonly found in large mafic igneous intrusions such as the Bushveld in South Africa and India. Chromite is iron-black in color with a metallic luster, a dark brown streak and a hardness on the Mohs scale of 5.5.
context_section_description: Chromium, which is mostly composed of chromite, is a main constituent in the manufacturing of stainless steel. Stainless steel contains 18% chromium. Chromium allows for the stainless steel to be hardened and toughened. It also allows for corrosion resistance at high temperatures. 90% of mined chromite ore is used for stainless steel production. Chromite ore production has been on a steady incline, which causes a rise in demand for the stainless steel markets.
caption: Heating element with nichrome wires
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