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
CategorySulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na2Co(SO4)2·4H2O
IMA symbolCblö[1]
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/a
Unit cella = 11.15, b = 8.27,
c = 5.54 [Å], β=100.52° (approximated); Z = 2
Identification
ColorColorless (grains), reddish-pink (aggregates)
Crystal habitAnhedral grains, in aggregates, forming crusts
CleavageNone
FractureUneven
Mohs scale hardness2.5
LusterVitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity2.29 (measured), 2.35 (calculated) (approximated)
Optical propertiesBiaxal (-)
Refractive indexnα=1.50, nβ=1.50, nγ=1.51 (approximated)
References[2][3]

Notes on chemistry

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Manganoblödite is impure, containing admixtures of magnesium, manganese and nickel.[2]

Association and origin

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Besite blödite and cobaltoblödite, other minerals associated with manganoblödite include chalcanthite, gypsum, johannite, sideronatrite, a feldspar group-mineral and quartz.[2]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c "Cobaltoblödite: Cobaltoblödite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  4. ^ "Blue Lizard Mine, Chocolate Drop, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan Co., Utah, USA - Mindat.org". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.