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limonite

American  
[lahy-muh-nahyt] / ˈlaɪ məˌnaɪt /

noun

Mineralogy.
  1. an amorphous hydrated ferric oxide, varying in color from dark brown to yellow, used as an ore of iron.


limonite British  
/ ˌlaɪməˈnɪtɪk, ˈlaɪməˌnaɪt /

noun

  1. a common brown, black, or yellow amorphous secondary mineral that consists of hydrated ferric oxides and is a source of iron. Formula: FeO(OH). n H 2 O

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • limonitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of limonite

1815–25; < Greek leimṓn meadow + -ite 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another is the brokerage’s projected saprolite and limonite sales volumes of 6.7 million wet metric tons and 1.4 million wet metric tons, respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The person did not specify how much the smelter is buying but said the purchases are of low-grade limonite ore.

From Reuters • Aug. 30, 2023

At first, the cargo hold appeared to match the description on the manifest: 2,300 tons of loose yellow rocks called limonite, a kind of iron ore.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2017

Figure 5.10 A granitic rock containing biotite and amphibole which have been altered near to the rock’s surface to limonite, which is a mixture of iron oxide minerals.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Granite temper and limonite pigment examination,by Professor Charles Meyer 13 Appendix IV.

From Mohave Pottery by Harner, Michaell J.