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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?

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Bohnerz is the German word for "bean ore". Another translation is "nuggets".

You might like to try the Wangen Valley in Switzerland.

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.

enter image description here

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