Kobellite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Kobellite is named after Franz von Kobell (1803-1882), Bavarian mineralogist and poet.

Discovered in 1839;   IMA status:  Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Pb₂₂Cu₄Bi₂₅Sb₅S₆₉

Lead Copper Bismuth Antimony Sulfide

Molecular Weight:

12858.40 gm

Composition:

Copper

1.98 %

Cu

Bismuth

40.63 %

Bi

Antimony

4.73 %

Sb

Lead

35.45 %

Pb

Sulfur

17.21 %

S

100.00 %

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Sulfides

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

2/E.33-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

2.HB.10a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
B : With Cu, Ag, Fe, Sn and Pb

Related to:

Kobellite - Tintinaite Series. The bismuth analogue of Tintinaite.

Varieties:

Antimonian Kobellite

Synonyms:

None

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Bladed, to 2 mm; commonly fibrous, massive, granular.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Good on {010}

Fracture:

Commonly fibrous

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

2.5 - 3.0

Density:

6.48 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Blackish lead-Gray to steel-Gray; in polished section: White

Transparency:

Opaque

Luster:

Metallic

Refractive Index:

R1–R2: (400) 48.6–51.8, (420) 48.0–51.1, (440) 47.5–50.5, (460) 47.0–49.9, (480) 46.6–49.3, (500) 46.1–48.7, (520) 45.6–48.1, (540) 45.0–47.5, (560) 44.6–46.9, (580) 44.1–46.4, (600) 43.8–45.9, (620) 43.5–45.7, (640) 43.3–45.5, (660) 43.1–45.4, (680) 42.9–45.3, (700) 42.7–45.2

Birefringence:

0.00

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

Weak

Anisotrophism:

Distinct; Color in reflected light: white

Occurances

Geological Setting:

High temperature hydrothermal deposits.

Common Associations:

Cobaltite, Arsenopyrite, Chalcopyrite (Vena mines, Sweden); Bismuthinite, Jamesonite, Tetrahedrite (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA).

Common Impurities:

Ag, Fe

Type Locality:

Vena Mines, Hammar, Askersund, Närke, Sweden

Year Discovered:

1839

View mineral photos:

Kobellite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Kobellite is a rare lead copper bismuth antimony sulfide mineral that contains over 40% bismuth. It is opaque with a metallic luster and steel-gray color. It is rarely available as a faceted gem but is attractive with its bright metallic luster contrasted by the Quartz host material.

Distribution: In Sweden, from the Vena mines, near Askersund, Örebro (type locality), and at Boliden, Västerbotten. From the Srednegolgotaiskoe gold deposit, Transbaikalia, Siberia, Russia. In the Ustarasai bismuth deposit, near Brichmulla village, Pskem Range, south Tien Shan, northeastern Uzbekistan. At the Salsigne mine, 15 km north of Carcassone, Aude, France. In the Aljustrel deposit, Portugal. From Smolotely, near Príbram, Czech Republic. At St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains, Germany. From Ciclova, Romania. At Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia. In the USA, from the Superior stone quarry, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina; in the Cofer deposit, near Mineral, Louisa County, Virginia; at the Silver Bell mine, Red Mountain district, Ouray County, Colorado. In Canada, from the Deer Park mine, in the Rossland area, and in the Dodger tungsten mine, Salmo, British Columbia; at the Tintina silver mines, Watson Lake, Yukon Territory.
 

  
Kobellite gems for sale:

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