The facts
What cobaltite actually is
The species behind cobaltite is cobaltite, CoAsS; it forms in the orthorhombic (pseudocubic) system.
Metallic silver-white with a pinkish tint; tarnishes grey is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a specific gravity of about 6.0–6.3, with perfect {001} cleavage.
Where cobaltite comes from
Commercial material comes from Håkansboda and Tunaberg, Sweden, Bou Azzer, Morocco, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada and Espanola, Ontario, Canada.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How cobaltite is treated
Untreated. Bright pseudocubic crystals from Håkansboda are the classic; specimens often show a pink erythrite bloom where they have begun to weather. Contains arsenic and cobalt — handle, do not grind.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What cobaltite is confused with
Watch for Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Skutterudite and Gersdorffite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
Because the material is opaque, refractive index is no help. Specific gravity around 6.0–6.3, hardness of 5.5, streak and magnification do the work instead.
What cobaltite is used for
The trades that buy cobaltite are mineral collecting and metallurgy. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 5.5; cleavage perfect {001}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What cobaltite costs
Expect roughly Specimens $40–$2,500, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is cobaltite treated, and how?
Untreated. Bright pseudocubic crystals from Håkansboda are the classic; specimens often show a pink erythrite bloom where they have begun to weather. Contains arsenic and cobalt — handle, do not grind.
Where does cobaltite come from?
Håkansboda and Tunaberg, Sweden, Bou Azzer, Morocco, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada and Espanola, Ontario, Canada. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is cobaltite hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 5.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect {001} cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does cobaltite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $40–$2,500. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is cobaltite confused with?
Most often Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Skutterudite and Gersdorffite. Since the material is opaque, separation relies on specific gravity near 6.0–6.3, hardness and magnification.
Related stones
Looking for cobaltite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about cobaltite