Goethite is a common iron hydroxide mineral frequently found as the weathering product of other iron-bearing minerals. Collectors prize it for its highly aesthetic radiating, needle-like crystal sprays and velvety botryoidal surfaces.
Is this goethite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch goethite with a known reference. Goethite sits at Mohs 5-5.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Goethite leaves a yellowish-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Goethite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, black, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, botryoidal, massive, or fibrous.
Often confused with
Goethite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Goethite leaves yellowish-brown, Lepidocrocite leaves orange-red.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Goethite leaves yellowish-brown, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads submetallic on Goethite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Luster reads submetallic on Goethite and submetallic to earthy on Limonite.
Often found alongside goethite
Minerals reported to co-occur with goethite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- α-FeO(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Density
- 3.3-4.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish-brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Botryoidal, Massive, Or Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Pigment, Iron Ore
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Iron-bearing Deposits, Sedimentary Iron Formations
- Typical price
- $5-50 thumbnail, $30-200 display specimen
Where rockhounds find goethite
36 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Germany
- England
- USA
- France
- Czech Republic
U.S. states with goethite
Each link opens a state-specific list of mapped rockhounding spots that produce goethite.
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of iron-bearing deposits, sedimentary iron formations country — that is the host setting where goethite typically forms. If you start seeing hematite, limonite, manganite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, botryoidal, massive, or fibrous habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Missouri, New Jersey, Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find goethite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
