limonite

1 9.9

A brown rock that contains iron and forms in wet ground

noun
/ˈlaɪməˌnaɪt/

Specialized

: limonita

This rock consists mainly of limonite, a brownish iron oxide ore, which gives it a distinctive color and texture.

Examples

The miner extracted limonite from the hillside, as it was sought after for its iron content.
During the geology field trip, we discovered that the soil was rich in limonite, indicating the presence of iron deposits.
Iron Harbor: the name spoke of ore glimmering everywhere, even in the harbor's icy depths, and there were stories of men pulling soft yellow limonite from the ground with their bare hands.

Fiction book (2002)

Surface Forms

limonite singular

limonites plural

Morphology

limonite = limon (opaque) = limon + ite

The apparent base 'limon' is not a productive or recognizable English word for learners, and while '-ite' signals a mineral name, it does not make the specific meaning predictable.

Etymology

Limonite comes from the Greek root leimon meaning 'meadow', because this brown iron ore was often found in wet meadows and bogs. The ending -ite is a common mineral ending, as in granite, so limonite means a brown iron 'mineral' you find in soil and bogs.