Cobaltoblödite | |
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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] |
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]
Manganoblödite is impure, containing admixtures of magnesium, manganese and nickel. [2]
Besite blödite and cobaltoblödite, other minerals associated with manganoblödite include chalcanthite, gypsum, johannite, sideronatrite, a feldspar group-mineral and quartz. [2]