spherocobaltite
sphérocobaltite form Bou Azzer in Morocco
sphérocobaltite from Bou Azzer in Morocco
cobaltocalcite emerald cut from South Africa
Detailed sheet
spherocobaltite
Its name comes from the Greek “sphaira” for sphere and from its composition with cobalt, which gives it its color, this is a rare stone.
It’a a Cobalt Carbonate that is often wrongly called “cobaltoan calcite”
Cobaltoan calcite chemically is a pink calcite owed to traces of Cobalt. It is hard to discern them since they are both found in the same mines, however cobaltoan calcite is often clearer than the spherocobaltite.
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Co[CO3]
cobalt carbonate
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
dark brown, pink, purple
Other colors
red, purple
Color of streak
pink
Luster
adamantine, vitreous
Hardness
3.0 to 4.0
Density
4.10 to 4.15
Cleavage
perfect
Fracture
uneven
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
translucent
Refractive index
1.600 - 1.855
Double refraction
0.255
very strong uniaxial ( - )
visible double refraction
Yes
Pleochroism
definite
Number of colors
2
purple - red, pink - red
Fluorescence
none
CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
in spherical aggregates and very small crystals
crystals system
trigonal
OTHER INFORMATIONS
APPROACHING GEMS
Exploited
sites
It is found in Morocco (Bou Azzer), in Spain, Germany (Westphalia), in Australia, Japan, United States (California, Utah).
use in jewelry
it is caut in facets or cabochon depending on its clarity, its a collection stone
Daily care
and precautions
fragile because of its low hardness.
Other
Gems
Venez visitez
notre site web
voillot-joaillier.fr
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