General Information: Chemical Formula:Fe+++O(OH)
Composition:(Molecular Weight = 88.85 gm)
Iron 62.85 %
FeHydrogen 1.13 %
H Oxygen 36.01 %
O Empirical Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
Environment:Common in iron ore deposits.
Locality:Mesabi district, Minnesota, USA.
Name Origin:Named after the German poet, J. W. Goethe (1749-1832).
Physical Properties: Cleavage:[010] Perfect, [100] Distinct
Color:brown, reddish brown, yellowish brown, brownish yellow, or ocher yellow.
Density:3.3 - 4.3, Average = 3.8
Diaphaniety:Subtranslucent to opaque
Habits:Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals., Reniform - "Kidney like" in shape (e.g.. hematite)., Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite )
Hardness:5-5.5 - Apatite-Knife Blade
Luminescence:None.
Luster:Adamantine - Silky
Streak:yellowish brown
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