Mössbauerite is a rare iron-bearing mineral belonging to the hydrotalcite supergroup, typically formed as an oxidation product of iron-rich carbonates or sulfides. Collectors can identify it by its characteristic hexagonal platy habit and earthy luster, usually found as secondary crusts or fine-grained aggregates in weathered iron ore deposits.
Is this mössbauerite?
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 mössbauerite with a known reference. Mössbauerite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Mössbauerite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Mössbauerite typically shows a earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy hexagonal crystals, micaceous aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Mössbauerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Iron Ore is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6.5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Mössbauerite leaves yellow, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads earthy on Mössbauerite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Lepidocrocite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Mössbauerite leaves yellow, Lepidocrocite leaves orange-red; luster reads earthy on Mössbauerite and submetallic on Lepidocrocite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Mössbauerite leaves yellow, Hydrotalcite leaves white; luster reads earthy on Mössbauerite and pearly on Hydrotalcite.
Often found alongside mössbauerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mössbauerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₃³⁺O(OH)₈(CO₃)·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Hexagonal Crystals, Micaceous Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Deposits and Weathering Zones
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find mössbauerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Krutikhinskoe deposit, Russia
- Leveäniemi mine, Sweden
- Eisenberg, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal deposits and weathering zones country, the host setting where mössbauerite typically forms. If you start seeing goethite, lepidocrocite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy hexagonal crystals, micaceous aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find mössbauerite on the map
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