Cobaltoblödite is a rare cobalt mineral with the formula Na2Co(SO4)2·4H2O.[2][3] Cobaltoblödite was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, which is known for secondary uranium minerals.[4] Cobaltoblödite occurs intimately intergrown with manganese-, cobalt- and nickel-enriched blödite and a yet another new mineral - manganoblödite. Cobaltoblödite, as suggested by its name is a cobalt-analogue of blödite. It is also analogous to changoite, manganoblödite and nickelblödite - other members of the blödite group.[3]
| Cobaltoblödite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Na2Co(SO4)2·4H2O |
| IMA symbol | Cblö[1] |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/a |
| Unit cell | a = 11.15, b = 8.27, c = 5.54 [Å], β=100.52° (approximated); Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless (grains), reddish-pink (aggregates) |
| Crystal habit | Anhedral grains, in aggregates, forming crusts |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 2.29 (measured), 2.35 (calculated) (approximated) |
| Optical properties | Biaxal (-) |
| Refractive index | nα=1.50, nβ=1.50, nγ=1.51 (approximated) |
| References | [2][3] |
Notes on chemistry
editManganoblödite is impure, containing admixtures of magnesium, manganese and nickel.[2]
Association and origin
editBesite blödite and cobaltoblödite, other minerals associated with manganoblödite include chalcanthite, gypsum, johannite, sideronatrite, a feldspar group-mineral and quartz.[2]
References
edit- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b c d Kasatkin, A.V., Nestola, F., Plášil, J., Marty, J., Belakovskiy, D.I., Agakhanov, A.A., Mills, S.J., Pedron, D., Lanza, A., Favaro, M., Bianchin, S., Lykova, I.S., Goliáš, V., and Birch, W.D., 2013. Manganoblödite, Na2Mn(SO4)2·4H2O, and cobaltoblödite, Na2Co(SO4)2·4H2O: two new members of the blödite group from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine 77(3), 367-383
- ^ a b c "Cobaltoblödite: Cobaltoblödite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
- ^ "Blue Lizard Mine, Chocolate Drop, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan Co., Utah, USA - Mindat.org". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.