Introduction: Iron Oxides: From Nature to Applications

Iron oxides are common in our environment and rust is certainly the first example coming in mind. Iron oxides are also utilized in a variety of applications, illustrated by the compass needle used by early sailors. This chapter briefly introduces where iron oxides can be found and in what form. In addition, the different iron oxide minerals are summarized with references to their early characterizations. More generally, the different aspects of iron oxide formation and use as well as modern characterization techniques are reviewed in this book.