First, here’s the “numerical” details, or the LRV. Iron Ore LRV = 6 LRV = Light Reflectance Value: Rated 0-100 with 0 being pure black, and 100 being pure white. Lighter paint shades REFLECT more light from them and therefore have a HIGHER LRV, and vice versa for darker shades). The LRV of Iron Ore is 6. Yes, 6. That means it's only a few shades lighter than pure black. However, it is enough that you can tell with the naked eye that it's a charcoal or dark gray shade, and definitely not black. Below see Iron Ore (6) side by side with pure white (100). The outside of the circle is in black (LRV 0).