limonite
Limonite () is an iron ore consisting of a mixture of hydrated iron(III) oxide-hydroxides in varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as , although this is not entirely accurate as the ratio of oxide to hydroxide can vary quite widely. Limonite is one of the three principal iron ores, the others being hematite and magnetite, and has been mined for the production of iron since at least 400 BC.
Key facts
- Mineral.name
- Limonite
- Mineral.image
- LimoniteUSGOV.jpg
- Mineral.category
- Amorphous, mineraloid
- Mineral.strunz
- Unclassified
- Mineral.color
- Various shades of brown and yellow
- Mineral.habit
- Fine grained aggregate, powdery coating
- Mineral.cleavage
- Absent
- Mineral.fracture
- Uneven
- Mineral.mohs
- 4–5.5
- Mineral.luster
- Earthy
- Mineral.streak
- Yellowish brown
- Mineral.diaphaneity
- Opaque
- Mineral.gravity
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Names
- Characteristics
- Formation
- Uses
- History
- See also
- Notes
- External links
Limonite () is an iron ore consisting of a mixture of hydrated iron(III) oxide-hydroxides in varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as , although this is not entirely accurate as the ratio of oxide to hydroxide can vary quite widely. Limonite is one of the three principal iron ores, the others being hematite and magnetite, and has been mined for the production of iron since at least 400 BC.
==Names== thumb|left|Bog iron ore