Both chemical formulas have iron in the so why is magnetite mined as an iron ore but biotite is not?
If you look more closely at the chemical make up of both minerals it is clear that magnetite contains a far greater proportion of iron than biotite. In addition to this magnetite is far more common than biotite, easier to mine and the extraction of iron from the ore is far cheaper and easier with magnetite.
Magnetite is a Oxide while Biotite is a sheet silicate. The liberation process is easier for the oxides while the Biotite is more difficulter because of the silicate. Silica bonds very well with its end members.
If you look more closely at the chemical make up of both minerals it is clear that magnetite contains a far greater proportion of iron than biotite. In addition to this magnetite is far more common than biotite, easier to mine and the extraction of iron from the ore is far cheaper and easier with magnetite.
Magnetite is a Oxide while Biotite is a sheet silicate. The liberation process is easier for the oxides while the Biotite is more difficulter because of the silicate. Silica bonds very well with its end members.
