General Information:
Chemical Formula:
(Co,Ni)As3-x
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 246.18 gm)
Cobalt 17.95 % Co
Nickel 5.96 % Ni
Arsenic 76.09 % As
Empirical Formula:
Co0.75Ni0.25As2.5
Environment:
Hydrothermal ore mineral.
Locality:
After Skutterud, Norway.
Name Origin:
Named after its locality. Smaltite In reference to smalt, a deep blue glaze in which this mineral was used to furnish the necessary cobalt.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[100] Distinct, [111] Distinct
Color:
white or light steel gray.
Density:
6.1 - 6.9, Average = 6.5
Diaphaniety:
Opaque
Habits:
Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix., Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass., Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming lar ge masses.
Hardness:
5.5-6 - Knife Blade-Orthoclase
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Metallic
Streak:
black
More details...