Botryoidal limonite

Weight: 302g. Dimensions: 116x90x24mm. Provenance: Hubei Province, China. Beautiful brown-red botryoid limonite, with these golden nodules and these rusty reflections. To get a better view of this Limonite, some photos are taken with LED light, others with natural sunlight and without. Limonite is not a single mineral, but a natural mix of iron oxides and hydroxides. It appears as masses that are brown, yellow, or ochre. It is often found in soils or marshy areas under the historic name iron in the marshes. Goethite is a very common mineral composed of iron oxyhydroxide and forms by the alteration of iron-rich rocks; it is the main component of natural rust. Limonite is a generic term for a group of hydrated iron oxides, often amorphous. Limonite can be recognized by its swollen nodules and golden reflections. The mineral has reddish-brown hues, which are typical of limonite, with these well-formed nodules and more pronounced rust reflections. Limonite, in fact, is a grouping of hydrated iron oxides, somewhat amorphous, so it does not have a well-defined crystalline structure. It often forms by the alteration of iron-rich minerals, such as magnetite or pyrite. It is commonly found in soils, wetlands, or as a secondary ore in iron ore deposits. It is sometimes used as a pigment as well, for its ochre tones. So we very often find the two minerals associated together."

Estimate:£127.08

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