The anti-corrosive and physical properties of organic coatings containing spinel pigments Mg 0.2 Zn 0.8 Fe 2 O 4 wer studied. Pigments exhibiting different particle morphologies were synthesized by high-temperature solid phase reactions. Core-shell pigments containing Fe-Mg-Zn ferrite shells deposited on non-isometric particles of mineral cores consisting of layered silicates were also prepared. The pigments were used in paints, the pigment volume concentrations in the binder being 5, 10 and 15%. Anti-corrosive efficiency was investigated for paint films containing one of three ferro-spinel (Mg 0.2 Zn 0.8 Fe 2 O 4)-based pigments or one of two core-shell pigments consisting of Fe-Mg-Zn shell and lamellar silicate-based cores. The paint properties were examined by accelerated corrosion tests and by physico-mechanical tests. The relationships between the pigment particle shape and the paint properties were examined. The effect of the pigment particle morphology on the mechanical properties of the paint films was also investigated. The dependence of the paint film properties on the pigment volume concentration was studied and the optimum concentrations providing the most efficient anti-corrosive protection were determined for each pigment.