The present invention present invention relates to improved IRIS Fe oxide paint compositions, to the dried (or cured) residue of such paints, and to devices upon which such paint compositions have been applied (IRIS devices) used to assess reducing conditions in soils, especially wetland soils. The improved IRIS Fe oxide paints contain from about 30 to about 70 mole percent goethite, more preferably, from about 40 to about 60 mole percent goethite, and still more preferably, about 50 mole percent goethite.