mineral
Limonite with Pyrite
Hydrated Iron Oxide Hydroxide, FeO(OH)·nH2O
Hardness: 4 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Yellow-brown, dark brown, to nearly black; Luster: Earthy, submetallic, or dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous or microcrystalline; Cleavage: None
- Hardness
- 4 to 5
- Color
- Yellow-brown, dark brown, to nearly black
- Luster
- Earthy, submetallic, or dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 4 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Yellow-brown, dark brown, to nearly black; Luster: Earthy, submetallic, or dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous or microcrystalline; Cleavage: None
Formation & geological history
Forms as a secondary mineral resulting from the oxidation and weathering of various iron-bearing minerals, commonly pyrite, magnetite, and hematite, in hydrothermal veins or sedimentary deposits.
Uses & applications
Historically used as a pigment (ochre), a minor ore of iron, and commonly collected by mineral enthusiasts.
Geological facts
Limonite is not a distinct mineral species, but rather a natural mixture of related iron oxide minerals, most commonly goethite, lepidocrocite, and jarosite.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its distinctive yellowish-brown streak on an unglazed porcelain plate and earthy texture. Often found in weathered zones of ore deposits globally.
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