Magnetism in fine particles of goethite which contain 5, 11, 18 and 30 mole % aluminium has been investigated. Mossbauer spectroscopy was used, with the samples at 4.2 K and in applied magnetic fields of 0–8 T. Analysis was via a mean field model, in which the spectra from each sample were simultaneously least-squares fitted. The presence of aluminium increases the effective anisotropy, introduces a range of anisotropy fields, and induces ferrimagnetism. Quantitative measurements of these effects are presented. It is surmised that the anisotropy is principally determined by the local environment of ferric ions, and that the distribution of anisotropy fields is the result of a variety of atomic neighbour configurations. Ferrimagnetism is understood to arise from a strong preference, with 100% success at intermediate concentrations, for aluminium ions to crystallise on the same sublattice. Simulations of the net magnetic moment in small particle systems are presented, and it is shown that statistical fluctuations and the effects of surfaces are unimportant in the particles studied.