Magnetite

specimen number:
2072376

location:
Kovdor Mine, Kola, Murmansk, Russia

description:
Lustrous sharp black crystals of magnetite to 3.3 cm in size across the front of matrix. In good condition, excellent for the species.

The Kovdor Massif, located in the Murmansk Oblast of the Kola Peninsula, Russia, is a world-class ultramafic-alkaline igneous complex famous for its massive iron, phosphorus, and zirconium deposits. Geologically, it is a multi-phase intrusion composed primarily of olivinites, pyroxenites, and carbonatites that formed during the Devonian period. The site is a major source of magnetite, which occurs in high concentrations within the iron-apatite ores and often forms large, lustrous octahedral crystals. Historically, the deposit was discovered in the 1930s, and large-scale open-pit mining and quarrying operations began in 1962 to supply the Soviet steel industry. While the extraction of magnetite for iron ore remains the primary economic activity, the mine is also prized by collectors for producing exceptional mineral specimens, including sharp magnetite crystals and unique varieties of phlogopite and baddeleyite. As of 2026, the Kovdor Mine continues to be an active, massive industrial operation and remains one of the largest and most mineralogically diverse mining sites in the Russian Arctic.

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