mineral
Limonite
Hydrated iron oxide-hydroxide, FeO(OH)nH2O
Hardness: 4 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Yellowish-brown, brown, or dark brown, Luster: Submetallic, earthy, or silky, Crystal structure: Amorphous or microcrystalline, Cleavage: None, Specific gravity: 2.7 to 4.3
- Hardness
- 4 to 5
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Physical properties
Hardness: 4 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Yellowish-brown, brown, or dark brown, Luster: Submetallic, earthy, or silky, Crystal structure: Amorphous or microcrystalline, Cleavage: None, Specific gravity: 2.7 to 4.3
Formation & geological history
Formed as a secondary mineral resulting from the weathering and oxidation of various iron-bearing minerals, often found in gossans and sedimentary iron deposits.
Uses & applications
Historically used as a low-grade iron ore and as a natural earth pigment (ochre) for paints and staining.
Geological facts
Limonite is not a distinct mineral species, but rather a mixture of related hydrated iron oxides, most commonly goethite, lepidocrocite, and jarosite.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its characteristic yellowish-brown streak. Found worldwide, frequently in oxidized zones of iron ore deposits.
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FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
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