The present work describes an easy procedure for the preparation of iron-silica and iron oxide-silica composites using the wet impregnation method and subsequent heat treatment in different atmospheres. In this way, a specific composite can be produced with a high content of iron or an iron oxide phase (about 24wt.%) uniformly dispersed in the silica matrix. No pre-treatment before calcinations was necessary to obtain the magnetic phases. Material characterization is also reported. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.