PURPOSE: To obtain such a nonmagnetic ceramic material for a magnetic head that has an almost equal coefft. of thermal expansion to that of a head material, high hardness and excellent sliding characteristics, hardly causes chipping during mechanical processing, and is suitable for an inexpensive slider.

CONSTITUTION: A soln. containing complex of amino acids and nitrates of Fe and Zn comprising ≥60mol% Fe2O3 in terms of oxide and the balance ZnO is heated to obtain a powder. The obtd. powder is compacted and the compacted body is sintered to obtain a sintered compact comprising a Fe2O3 phase and a ZnFe2O4 phase and having ≤5μm average grain diameter.