Currently used for unidentified massive hydroxides and oxides of iron, with no visible crystals, and a yellow-brown streak. 'Limonite' is most commonly the mineral species goethite, but can also consist of varying proportions of lepidocrocite, hisingerite, pitticite, jarosite group species, maghemite, hematite, etc.

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Pronounciation of LimoniteHide

Pronounciation:

Play	Recorded by	Country
	Jolyon & Katya Ralph	United Kingdom

Physical Properties of LimoniteHide

Lustre:

Earthy

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Light brown to brown, may be yellowish-brown

Streak:

Yellowish brown to red

Hardness:

4 - 5½ on Mohs scale

Comment:

Massive may be very soft.

Density:

2.7 - 4.3 g/cm³ (Measured)

Chemical Properties of LimoniteHide

Formula:

(Fe,O,OH,H₂O)

Elements listed:

Fe, H, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of LimoniteHide

Morphology:

While "limonite" is poorly crystallized, a number of minerals are noted for decomposing to it without losing their crystal shape - particularly pyrite and siderite crystals. Any "crystals" of "limonite" are actually pseudomorphs of other minerals which have decomposed in this fashion.

Synonyms of LimoniteHide

Other Language Names for LimoniteHide

Czech:Limonit

Estonian:Limoniit

French:Limonite

German:Limonit
Berggelb
Blauerz
Bohnerz
Brauneisen
Ferrohydrit
Gelbeisenstein
Glanzeisenstein
Hydrosiderit
Hyposiderit
Perlimonit
Raseneisenerz
Raseneisenstein
Rasenerz
Sumpfeisenstein
Sumpfraseneisenerz
Toneisenerz
Toneisenstein

Hebrew:לימוניט

Japanese:褐鉄鉱

Lithuanian:Limonitas

Polish:Limonit

Portuguese:Limonite

Romanian:Limonit

Russian:Лимонит

Simplified Chinese:褐铁矿
黄针铁矿

Slovak:Limonit

Spanish:Limonita
Ferrohydrita
Globoso
Hierro arcilloso
Hydrosiderita
Hyposiderita
Palustre
Perlimonita

Swedish:Limonit
Gul Jernmalm
Myrmalm
Sjömalm

Traditional Chinese:褐鐵礦
黃針鐵礦

Varieties of LimoniteHide

Adlerstein	Nodular concretions of iron oxides/hydroxides, mainly goethite and/or lepidocrocite, around a core of clay minerals
Alumolimonite	Al-bearing Limonite
Auriferous Limonite	A gold-bearing variety of limonite.
Avasite	Probably a siliceous limonite. Formula displayed below is very doubtful.
Bean Ore	A local name for a lenticular aggregated Limonite.
Chromiferous Limonite	A chromium-bearing variety of limonite.
Liminitogelite
Limnite	Recently formed varieties of limonite (bog ore) containing much water
Stilpnosiderite	A colloidal form of Limonite

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Quartz	689 photos of Limonite associated with Quartz on mindat.org.
Calcite	436 photos of Limonite associated with Calcite on mindat.org.
Pyrite	230 photos of Limonite associated with Pyrite on mindat.org.
Baryte	228 photos of Limonite associated with Baryte on mindat.org.
Goethite	150 photos of Limonite associated with Goethite on mindat.org.
Malachite	144 photos of Limonite associated with Malachite on mindat.org.
Siderite	131 photos of Limonite associated with Siderite on mindat.org.
Chalcopyrite	119 photos of Limonite associated with Chalcopyrite on mindat.org.
Hematite	98 photos of Limonite associated with Hematite on mindat.org.
Sphalerite	88 photos of Limonite associated with Sphalerite on mindat.org.

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Limonite in petrologyHide

An essential component of (items highlighted in red)

Metamorphic rock
- Meta-igneous rock
  - Metaplutonic rock
    - Meta coarse-grained-ultramafic-rock
      - Metaperidotite
        Metadunite
        ⓘ Birbirite

Common component of (items highlighted in red)

References for LimoniteHide

Reference List:

Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume I: 685-686.

Internet Links for LimoniteHide

Significant localities for LimoniteHide

Showing 2 significant localities out of 12,192 recorded on mindat.org.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (eg from pseudomorphs.)

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


USA
Pennsylvania Chester Co. Sadsbury Township ⓘ Parkesburg
Utah Millard Co. Drum Mts Detroit District (Drum District; Joy District) ⓘ King Tut Mine (Yellow Cat Claim)	U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

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