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Formula: Co(CO3)
Anhydrous carbonate, calcite group,
cobalt-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 4.13 measured, 4.21 calculated
Hardness: 3 to 4
Streak: Pink
Colour: Rose red, altering to grey, brown or velvet back
Solubility: Slowly soluble in cold hydrochloric acid. Rapidly soluble in hot acids with effervescence.
Common impurities: Ca,Ni,Fe,O
Environments
Spherocobaltite is a rare accessory mineral in hydrothermal
cobalt-bearing mineral deposits with oxidised zones containing
carbonates. Associated minerals include carrollite,
chrysocolla, cobaltoan
calcite,
cobaltoan
dolomite, heterogenite and
malachite
(Mindat).
Spherocobaltite has been found to form a complete solid solution series with
magnesite at 600°C and 15 kbar pressure
(CM 52.653-670).
Localities
At the Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, spherocobaltite is associated with
cobaltoan
calcite and cobaltoan
dolomite
(HOM).
At the L'Etoile du Congo mine, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, spherocobaltite occurs in
dolostone
(Dana).
At the type locality, the Daniel mine, Neustädtel, Schneeberg, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany, spherocobaltite
occurs in
cobalt-nickel veins associated with
roselite,
erythrite and annabergite
(HOM, Dana, Mindat ).
Alteration:
Spherocobaltite alters to heterogenite
(Mindat).
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