mineral
Limonite with Quartz
Hydrated Iron Oxide Hydroxide, FeO(OH)·nH₂O with SiO₂
Hardness: 4 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Yellowish-brown, dark brown to black, Luster: Earthy, submetallic, or silky, Crystal structure: Amorphous or microcrystalline (pseudomorphic after pyrite)
- Hardness
- 4 to 5
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Physical properties
Hardness: 4 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Yellowish-brown, dark brown to black, Luster: Earthy, submetallic, or silky, Crystal structure: Amorphous or microcrystalline (pseudomorphic after pyrite)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the oxidation and weathering of iron-bearing minerals like pyrite or magnetite in surface or near-surface environments.
Uses & applications
Used historically as a pigment (ochre), as an iron ore, and occasionally as a specimen for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Limonite is not a true distinct mineral species, but rather a natural mixture of related iron oxide minerals like goethite, lepidocrocite, and jarosite.
Field identification & locations
Commonly identified by its characteristic yellowish-brown streak and earthy appearance, often found in gossans above sulfide ore deposits.
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