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 — 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 — Mössbauerite leaves yellow, Lepidocrocite leaves orange-red; luster reads earthy on Mössbauerite and submetallic on Lepidocrocite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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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