Smaltite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameSmaltite
Chemical FormulaCoAs3
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustermetallic
Streak Colorblack
Cleavagepoor/indistinct
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity6.7
Colorstin-white, steel-gray, silver-white
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalitySchneeberg, Germany
Mineral GroupSulfides
Usesore of cobalt, ore of arsenic, collector
Associated Mineralsbismuth, native silver, arsenopyrite, calcite, quartz
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen displays a cluster of intergrown, metallic, steel-gray to silver-white crystals, exhibiting a bright luster and a somewhat blocky to octahedral habit.
Geological Context
Smaltite typically forms in hydrothermal veins, often found in association with other cobalt, nickel, and arsenic minerals, indicating formation in moderate to high-temperature environments.
