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Iron Carbonate Uses

Iron carbonate is a mineral found in shallow sedimentary deposits. Deposits are found in many parts of the world. It is often known as siderite when it is considered as a mineral specimen, or as ferrous carbonate for its medical uses. In the past it has been used in medicine to cure neuralgic complaints. It is now more commonly used as a source of iron ore or as a collectible mineral.

  1. Appearance

    • Iron carbonate appears in a number of shapes and colors. The mineral can vary from clumps of fibrous-looking opaque lozenges to delicate translucent flakes clustered together. It can appear as golden brown lumps of sugar or grey-gold coral-like crystals. Colors can include grey, yellow, brown, yellowish brown, reddish brown and greenish brown.

    Iron Ore

    • Iron carbonate is widely distributed across the United States, South America and Europe. It contains 48 percent iron and is a valuable iron mineral. It is a good source of iron ore in the United Kingdom, but it is not used as an ore in America.

    Medicine

    • Under the alternative name of ferrous carbonate, it has been used to treat iron deficiency anemia. In the 19th century, iron carbonate was seen as an effective cure for neurological conditions that are now treated by anticonvulsants and muscle relaxers. Iron carbonate is magnetic when heated. Some scientists in the 19th century were interested in the effects of magnetism and thought that it had healing properties.

    Neuralgia

    • Doctors used heavy doses of the mineral to treat tic douloureux, or trigeminal neuralgia. The symptoms of this unpleasant condition were stabbing pains in one side of the face. The treatment was hailed as a success, but results may have been due to spontaneous remission, as the treatment took several months to complete and patients could recover in this time period without any medical intervention. It was also used as a cure for chorea, or Saint Vitus' dance, which caused convulsive movements in sufferers. Large doses of ferrous carbonate were provided to the patient.

    Mineral Specimens

    • As a collectible mineral specimen, iron carbonate is often know as siderite. It can be found in a variety of forms and colors, ranging from dull and off-white opaque lumps of the mineral to the more attractive crystalline forms. It is available as cut gemstones, as well as in its natural state of clumps or masses.

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