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Cobaltocalcite  (Spherocobaltite)
Current inventory:  1 gem
 

Cobaltocalcite

Chemistry:  CoCO3

Discovered in 1877;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Cobaltocalcite is named for its cobalt content and that it is a dimorph of Calcite. Spherocobaltite is named from the Greek
sphaira, for sphere, plus cobalt, alluding to its spherical crystal habit and composition. The name Calcite is derived from the Latin calx, meaning lime.

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Carbonates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/B.02-70

 

5 : Nitrates, Carbonates & Borates
B : Waterfree carbonates without unfamiliar anions
02 : Calcite group

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Trigonal-Hexagonal - Scalenohedal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals uncommon, rhombohedral, flat discoidal, modified, to 5 mm; commonly compact radiated, concentric, spherical, massive, and in crusts.

Twinning:

Observed

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

[1011] Perfect, [1011] Perfect, [1011] Perfect (perfect rhombohedral)

Fracture:

Subconchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

3.0 - 4.0

Density:

4.10 - 4.13 (g/cm3)

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

Color:

Pink, Rose red, Gray brown, Black

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous to Adamantine

Refractive Index:

1.885 - 1.600  Uniaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.2850 (very high)

Dispersion:

Strong

Pleochroism:

Dichroic: O = violet-red; E = rose-red

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

A rare accessory mineral in hydrothermal cobalt-bearing mineral deposits.

Type Locality:

Daniel Mine, Neustädtel, Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany

Year Discovered:

1877

View mineral photos:

Cobaltocalcite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 


Cobaltocalcite, also known as Spherocobaltite, is a dimorph of Calcite. It is a rare and beautiful mineral and very rare gem. It is usually found in shades of pink from pale pink to rose red, to deep pinkish red. Current sources are Morocco, Spain and Congo (Zaire).
 

  
Cobaltocalcite gems for sale:

Cobaltocalcite-001

Gem:

Cobaltocalcite

Stock #:

COBAL-001

Weight:

0.1885 ct

Size:

3.95 x 2.35 mm

Shape:

Round

Color:

Bright Pastel Pink

Clarity:

Eye Clean

Origin:

Andalusia, Spain

Treatment:

None (natural)

Price:

SOLD (but we have others)

Pictures are of the actual gem offered for sale.
Gem images are magnified to show detail.

Cobaltocalcite-001

A rare and beautiful, bright pink gem with a slightly sleepy glow of color. This gem is from the Espuela de San Miguel Mine, Villanueva de Córdoba, Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain


 


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