mineral

Limonite (Yellow Ochre)

Hydrated Iron Oxide (FeO(OH)·nH2O)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 4-5.5 (variable, often softer when earthy), Color: Ochre-yellow to yellowish-brown, Luster: Dull to earthy, Crystal Structure: Amorphous or microcrystalline, Cleavage: None, Streak: Yellowish-brown

Hardness: 4-5
Streak: Yellowish-brown

Identified July 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a secondary mineral through the weathering and oxidation of iron-bearing minerals such as pyrite, marcasite, magnetite, and siderite in near-surface oxidized zones.

Uses & applications

Historically and currently used as a natural pigment (yellow ochre), as a minor ore of iron, and occasionally as a soil conditioner or mineral specimen.

Geological facts

Limonite is not a true mineral in the strict sense, but a mixture of hydrated iron oxide minerals, predominantly goethite along with lepidocrocite and jarosite. It was one of the earliest pigments used by humans in cave paintings.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive yellowish-brown color, earthy texture, and characteristic yellow-brown streak. Commonly found in oxidized zones of iron ore deposits, soils, and weathered iron-rich rocks worldwide.