MAGHEMITE

also called gamma-Fe2O3 an iron oxide mineral. It has a composition close to ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and exhibits strong magnetism and remanence. Its structure is isometric, of defective spinel form, and somewhat iron-deficient. Maghemite is metastable with respect to hematite and forms a continuous metastable solid solution with magnetite; titanium can substitute for iron, giving rise to titanomaghemite. Natural maghemite forms by oxidation of magnetite. Synthetic maghemite, produced by dehydrating lepidocrocite or oxidizing magnetite at a low temperature, is used as a magnetic-recording medium.