Siderite
Siderite
System/3
<catset>Category="Carbonate minerals"</catset><i>Siderite is also the name of a type of <a href="Iron">Iron</a> <a href="Meteorite">Meteorite</a>.</i><hr style="height: 1px; color: #aaaaaa; background-color: #aaaaaa; border: 0; margin: 0.2em 0 0.2em 0;">[image] <b>Siderite</b> is a <a href="Mineral">Mineral</a> composed of <a href="Iron">Iron</a> <a href="Carbonate">Carbonate</a> FeCO<sub>3</sub>. It is a valuable iron mineral, since it is 48% iron and contains no <a href="Sulfur">Sulfur</a> or <a href="Phosphorus">Phosphorus</a>. Both <a href="Magnesium">Magnesium</a> and <a href="Manganese">Manganese</a> commonly substitute for the iron.<p>Its crystals belong to the <a href="Hexagon">hexagonal</a> system, and are <a href="Rhombohedral">Rhombohedral</a> in shape, typically with curved and striated faces. It also occurs in masses. Color ranges from yellow to dark brown or black, the latter being due to the presence of <a href="Manganese">Manganese</a>.<p>Siderite is commonly found in hydrothermal veins, and is associated with <a href="Barite">Barite</a>, <a href="Fluorite">Fluorite</a>, <a href="Galena">Galena</a>, and others. It may also be deposited by sedimentary processes.