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Identity HelpSafflorite?

26th Oct 2016 20:59 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

I bought this in Tucson from a Moroccan dealer who said this was a cobalt mineral from the Bouisnas Mine in Morocco. The Hardmess is about 5 and in some places it is beginning to tarmish blue and very dark bluish black on the back. The top of the specimen includes small white Calcite crystals. The bronze mineral on bottom left that looks like Pyrite is some very soft mineral that disintegrates very easily when poked with a needle so it is not Pyrite. I am not that familiar with cobalt minerals but was wondering whether the silvery bladed crystals could be Safflorite? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. John S.

26th Oct 2016 21:06 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Safflorite is part of a series that includes lollingite and rammelsbergite and can vary greatly in composition. Therefore whether or not it is safflorite depends on it's composition and the only way to know what that is, is to have it analyzed.

26th Oct 2016 23:03 UTCDavid K. Joyce Expert

Hi John,

It's Bouismas Mine

Any erythrite-type mineralization in on or around it?

David K Joyce

27th Oct 2016 00:15 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

No David, no signs erythrite but that is not surprising because it is not reported as occurring at this locality, Wet qualitative chemistry tests indicate a strong presence of cobalt with lesser amounts of iron and nickel. John S.

27th Oct 2016 01:08 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Certainly looks like it could be safflorite and if you are sure it is cobalt dominant then I would call it that.

27th Oct 2016 01:32 UTCDavid K. Joyce Expert

John,

I would agree with Reiner. Surprised you didn't tell the thread about the qualitative test result, initially.

David K Joyce

27th Oct 2016 02:04 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

I did not post the qualitative chemical test results in the initial post because I did not have them at that time. I was readying a sample for analysis by dissolving it nitric acid. I had the results by the second post. John S.