M–Ba ferrite powders prepared by the coprecipitation method were embedded, using the sol–gel technique, in an inert silica xerogel matrix. Samples were analysed by X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry. We compare the magnetic and structural properties of pure ferrite samples and those embedded in the inorganic matrix. The mixed samples had a proportion of 30% BaFe12O19:70% SiO2 in weight. We observed an enhancement of the coercive force in ferrite powders, embedded in the SiO2 matrix, accompanied by a decrease of the saturation magnetization, with respect to pure samples.