<p><a href="https://www.mindat.org/min-708.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bohnerz</a> is the German word for &quot;bean ore&quot;. Another translation is &quot;<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238682786_Origin_of_Iron_Ore_Nuggets_Bohnerze_through_Weathering_of_Basalt_as_Documented_by_Pebbles_from_the_Herbstlabyrinth_Breitscheid-Germany" rel="nofollow noreferrer">nuggets</a>&quot;.</p>
<p>You might like to try the <a href="https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/pisolitic-iron-ore-in-the-wangen-valley/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wangen Valley in Switzerland</a>.</p>
<p>Pisolitic iron deposits consist of small pebbles that are roughly pea shaped and similar in size to peas. The individual pebbles formed as concretions. The picture below shows <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohnerz" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bean ore from a gravel plant near Genkingen/Swabian Alb</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YmFWI.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YmFWI.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-26T05:49:07.760Z
2022-03-26T05:49:07.760Z
Fred
<p>I am going hunting for iron ore in Switzerland and the plan is to visit some old abandoned mines in the Jura mountains. I am not quite sure exactly what I am looking for though, in the past I have found a lot of magnetite in other countries, but I do not think that is present here.</p>
<p>In a report by the USGS I found the following passage:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Jura Mountains -- In the Jura Mountains of western Switzerland are
found the so-called &quot;Bohnerze&quot; -- pisolitic ores derived from Mesozoic
iron-bearing limestones by superficial disintegration during the
Eocene epoch. They are low-grade, slightly titaniferous ores which
contain 42 per cent of iron after washing.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>What does this kind of &quot;Bohnerze&quot; ore actually look like, and how would I best find it? Will the ore be magnetic?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-26T18:25:50.243Z
https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohnerz
Spencer
<limestone><ore><iron><mesozoic>
"Bohnerze" pisolitic ore in Switzerland
a20
# "Bohnerze" pisolitic ore in Switzerland

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-25)

I am going hunting for iron ore in Switzerland and the plan is to visit some old abandoned mines in the Jura mountains. I am not quite sure exactly what I am looking for though, in the past I have found a lot of magnetite in other countries, but I do not think that is present here.

In a report by the USGS I found the following passage:

> Jura Mountains -- In the Jura Mountains of western Switzerland are
> found the so-called "Bohnerze" -- pisolitic ores derived from Mesozoic
> iron-bearing limestones by superficial disintegration during the
> Eocene epoch. They are low-grade, slightly titaniferous ores which
> contain 42 per cent of iron after washing.

What does this kind of "Bohnerze" ore actually look like, and how would I best find it? Will the ore be magnetic?

**Tags:** limestone, ore, iron, mesozoic

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohnerz  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-03-26. Score: 3

[Bohnerz](https://www.mindat.org/min-708.html) is the German word for "bean ore". Another translation is "[nuggets](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238682786_Origin_of_Iron_Ore_Nuggets_Bohnerze_through_Weathering_of_Basalt_as_Documented_by_Pebbles_from_the_Herbstlabyrinth_Breitscheid-Germany)".

You might like to try the [Wangen Valley in Switzerland](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/pisolitic-iron-ore-in-the-wangen-valley/).

Pisolitic iron deposits consist of small pebbles that are roughly pea shaped and similar in size to peas. The individual pebbles formed as concretions. The picture below shows [Bean ore from a gravel plant near Genkingen/Swabian Alb](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohnerz).

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/YmFWI.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/YmFWI.jpg)


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