Cobaltite

Cobaltite is an arsenide and sulfide mineral with the mineral formula CoAsS. It is the naming mineral of the cobaltite group of minerals, whose members structurally resemble pyrite (FeS₂).

Cobaltite
Cobaltite from Sweden
General
Category	Sulfide mineral
Formula	CoAsS
IMA symbol	Cbt[1]
Strunz classification	2.EB.25
Crystal system	Orthorhombic
Crystal class	Pyramidal (mm2) (same H-M symbol)
Space group	Pc21b
Unit cell	a = 5.582 Å, b = 5.582 Å, c = 5.582 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Color	Reddish silver white, violet steel gray to black
Crystal habit	Granular to massive, rarely as striated crystals, pseudocubic.
Twinning	About [111] creating pseudo-cubic forms and striations
Cleavage	Perfect on {001}
Fracture	Uneven
Tenacity	Brittle
Mohs scale hardness	5.5
Luster	Metallic
Streak	Grayish-black
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Density	6.33 g/cm3
References	[2][3][4][5]

History

Cobaltite was first described in 1797 by Klaproth.^[6] Its name stems from the contained element cobalt, whose name is attributed to the German term Kobold, referring to an "underground spirit" or "goblin". The notion of "bewitched" minerals stems from cobaltite and other cobalt ores withstanding the smelting methods of the medieval period, often producing foul-smelling, poisonous fumes in the process.^[6]

Properties

Cobaltite naturally appears in the form of a tetartoid, a form of dodecahedron with chiral tetrahedral symmetry.

Its impurities may contain up to 10% iron and variable amounts of nickel.^[7]

Cobaltite can be separated from other minerals by selective, pH controlled, flotation methods, where cobalt recovery usually involves hydrometallurgy. It can also be processed with pyrometallurgical methods, such as flash smelting.^[8]

Occurrences

Although rare, it is mined as a significant source of the strategically important metal cobalt. It occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal deposits and contact metamorphic rocks. It occurs in association with magnetite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, skutterudite, allanite, zoisite, scapolite, titanite, and calcite along with numerous other Co–Ni sulfides and arsenides.^[3]

It is found chiefly in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Cornwall, England, Canada, La Cobaltera

, Chile, Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Morocco.^[3][7][5] Crystals have also been found at Khetri in Rajasthan, and under the name sehta the mineral was used by Indian jewellers for producing a blue enamel on gold and silver ornaments.^[9]

Secondary weathering incrustations of erythrite, hydrated cobalt arsenate, are common.^{[citation needed]}

A variety containing much iron replacing cobalt, and known as ferrocobaltite (German: Stahlkobalt), was found at Siegen in Westphalia.^[9]