Limonite
| Limonite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Amorphous, mineraloid |
| Formula | FeO(OH)·nH2O |
| Strunz classification | Unclassified |
| Identification | |
| Color | Various shades of brown and yellow |
| Crystal habit | Fine grained aggregate, powdery coating |
| Cleavage | Absent |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Mohs scale hardness | 4–5.5 |
| Luster | Earthy |
| Streak | Yellowish brown |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 2.9–4.3 |
| Density | 2.7–4.3 g/cm3 |
| References | |
Limonite (/ˈlaɪməˌnaɪt/) is an iron ore consisting of a mixture of hydrated iron(III) oxide-hydroxides in varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as FeO(OH)·nH2O, 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.