 Similarly, goethite (α-FeO(OH)) and lepidocrocite (γ-FeO(OH)), basic hydroxides of iron, are among the principal ores used for the manufacture of metallic iron.Numerous other uses can be found in the articles on individual hydroxides.Aside from NaOH and KOH, which enjoy very large scale applications, the hydroxides of the other alkali metals also are useful.