Cattierite

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Cattierite
General
Category Sulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
CoS2
Strunz classification 2.EB.05a
Crystal symmetry Isometric diploidal
H-M symbol: (2/m3)
Space group: P a3
Unit cell a = 5.52 Å; Z=4
Identification
Color Pink to grayish white
Crystal habit Cubic crystals and granular intergrowths
Crystal system Cubic
Cleavage Perfect on {001}
Mohs scale hardness 4
Luster Metallic
Diaphaneity Opaque
Specific gravity 4.82
Optical properties Isotropic
References [1][2][3]

Cattierite (CoS2) is a cobalt sulfide mineral found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was discovered together with the nickel sulfide vaesite by Johannes F. Vaes, a Belgian mineralologist and named after Felicien Cattier, Chairman of the Board, Union Miniere du Haut Katanga.[4]

The mineral belongs to the pyrite group, in which all minerals share the same building principle. The metal in the oxidation state +2 forms a sodium chloride structure together with the anion S22−. This formalism recognizes that the sulfur atoms in pyrite occur in pairs with clear S-S bonds.

It occurs with pyrite, chalcopyrite and members of the linnaeitepolydymite group in ore deposits in carbonate rocks. In addition to the type locality in the Katanga district it is reported from Gansberg, Black Forest, Germany; near Filipstad, Varmland, Sweden; Bald Knob, near Sparta, Alleghany County, North Carolina and in the Fletcher mine of Reynolds County, Missouri.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. Fact sheet from Mindat.org
  3. Fact sheet from Webmineral
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>