Name:

limonite

A photo of the mineral limonite

Class:

Oxide/Hydroxides

Chemistry:

FeOOH€n H2O

Color(s):

yellow, brown, glassy,

Hardness:

4-5.5

SpecGrav:

2.7-4.3

Fracture:

conchoidal, uneven

Cleavage:

none

Crystal:

Amorphous, fibrous, botryoidal - limonite is not really a mineral but rather a mixture of hydrated goethite.

Envronment:

a mixture of secondary iron minerals, alteration product of iron ores, especially sulfides

Association:

pyrite, hematite, prolusite, psilomelane, calcite, quartz

Locals:

Germany / France / Luxembourg / Italy / USSR/ Cuba/ Brazil / Zaire / India/ USA

Misc:

named from the Greek, leimons, meaning "meadow". Because it often was found in bogs. It is actually a Cryptocrystalline goethite with water.

Photos
& Locals:

1.) Montes Claros, Mina Garais, Brazil (pseudomorph after pyrite)
2.) Montes Claros, Mina Garais, Brazil (pseudomorph after pyrite)

3.) Montes Claros, Mina Garais, Brazil (pseudomorph after pyrite)
4.) Montes Claros, Mina Garais, Brazil (pseudomorph after pyrite)

TheImage Home
Minerals by Name
Minerals by Class
Gemstones

Photo Information
Crystal Info
Bibliography