mineral
Goethite
Goethite (alpha-FeO(OH))
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, yellowish-brown to dark brown or black color, adamantine to dull luster, and an orthorhombic crystal system.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, yellowish-brown to dark brown or black color, adamantine to dull luster, and an orthorhombic crystal system.
Formation & geological history
Forms as a weathering product of iron-rich minerals in oxidizing environments and in sedimentary bog iron deposits.
Uses & applications
Used as an iron ore, a pigment (ochre), and as a mineral specimen for collectors.
Geological facts
Named after the German poet and polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was an avid mineralogist.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its characteristic yellowish-brown streak and botryoidal or stalactitic habits; commonly found worldwide.
