Abstract--The dissolution of synthetic magnetite, maghemite, hematite, goethite, lepidocrocite, and akaganeite was faster in HCI than in HCIO4. In the presence of H § the C1-ion increased the dissolution rate, but the 004-ion had no effect, suggesting that the formation of Fe-Cl surface complexes assists dissolution. The effect of temperature on the initial dissolution rate can be described by the Arrhenius equation, with dissolution rates in the order: lepidocrocite > magnetite > akaganeite > maghemite > hematite > goethite. Activation energies and frequency factors for these minerals are 20.0, 19.0, 16.0, 20.3, 20.9, 22.5 kcal/ mole and 5.8 • 1011, 1.8 • 101~ 7.4 • 10 7, 5.1 • 101~ 2.1 • 101~ 3.0 x 1011 g Fe dissolved/mZ/hr, respectively. The complete dissolution of magnetite, maghemite, hematite, and goethite is well described by the cube-root law, whereas that of lepidocrocite is not.