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Formula: Co2+Co3+2S4
Sulphide, linnaeite subgroup,
thiospinel group,
spinel supergroup,
forms a series with polydymite
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 4.8
Hardness: 4½ to 5½
Streak: Greyish black
Colour: Grey, violet
Common impurities: Ni,Cu,Fe,Se
Environments
Linnaeite occurs in hydrothermal veins with other cobalt and
nickel sulphides. Associated minerals include chalcopyrite,
pyrrhotite, millerite,
bismuthinite, gersdorffite,
carrollite, cattierite,
ullmannite, marcasite,
pyrite, galena and
sphalerite
(HOM).
Localities
At the type locality, the Bastnäs mines, Riddarhyttan, Skinnskatteberg, Västmanland County, Sweden, linnaeite is one of the rarest minerals.
It occurs as grains in chalcopyrite, or with grains of
chalcopyrite and magnetite in a
clinochlore skarn. Crystals of linnaeite occur
with chalcopyrite and pyrite, and sometimes in
allanite-(Ce) veins in the cerium ore
(MinRec 35.3.196-197).
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