Limonite
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Formula:
(Fe,O,OH,H2O)
Colour:
Light brown to brown, may be yellowish-brown
Lustre:
Earthy
Hardness:
4 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
2.7 - 4.3
Name:
Named in 1813 by Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann from the greek λειμωυ for meadow alluding to its common occurrences in bogs.
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.
Physical Properties of Limonite
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 Limonite
Formula:
(Fe,O,OH,H2O)
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Limonite
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 Limonite
Other Language Names for Limonite
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
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
Slovak:Limonit
Varieties of Limonite
| 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 Associates
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 Information
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 petrology
An essential component of (items highlighted in red)
Common component of (items highlighted in red)
References for Limonite
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 Limonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2402.html
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Specimens:
The following Limonite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
Significant localities for Limonite
Showing 2 significant localities out of 12,161 recorded on mindat.org.
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The Locality List
(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
USA | |
| |
| U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. |
Christandl quarry, Peunt, Naintschgraben, Anger, Weiz, Styria, Austria