Safflorite

safflorite

skutterudite

lollingite

rammelsbergite

Images

Formula: CoAs₂
Arsenide, löllingite group, orthorhombic paramorph of monoclinic clinosafflorite, cobalt-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 7.2 measured, 7.471 calculated
Hardness: 4½ to 5
Streak: Greyish black
Colour: Tin-white, tarnishing to dark grey
Common impurities: Cu,Ni,S
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Safflorite occurs in hydrothermal veins of moderate temperature and pressure (Webmin, HOM), associated with skutterudite, rammelsbergite, nickeline, silver, bismuth and löllingite (HOM).

Localities

At the Langis mine, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada, safflorite pseudomorphs after silver have been found (KL p134).

Alteration

There is a complete solid solution between safflorite and löllingite, limited solution of cobalt in rammelsbergite and no solid solution between löllingite and rammelsbergite (AM53.1856, Mindat).

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