Canadian Rockhound: Cobaltite

Cobaltite (CoAsS) is a silvery grey mineral that has been used as an ore of the metal cobalt. It is a minor mineral in several types of ore deposits, usually as fine grained aggregates. The finest cobaltite crystals are dodecahedrons and cubes from copper/cobalt deposits in Sweden.

Cobaltite in Manitoba is found in a series of copper/cobalt occurrences in southeast Manitoba and northwest Ontario. One of the occurrences has been mined for cobalt at Werner Lake, Ontario.

A small body of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and cobaltite is exposed in a prospect pit on the Ore Fault Claims, east of Lac du Bonnet. The Cobaltite occurs as 0.5 cm to 1 cm disseminated euhedral crystals in chalcopyrite. The crystal form is dodecahedral with sharp edges. The cobaltite is locally common. Dozens of crystals to 1 cm in diameter have been found within a hand-sized mass of sulphides.

The Ore Fault Claims are privately owned and permission to collect in the prospect pit must be obtained by writing Mr. J. Campbell, Gossan Resources Limited. 52 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3J 1L6 or phoning (204) 943-1990.

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The preceding article was first published in the October 1998 issue of the Mineral Vein, the official newsletter of the Mineral Society of Manitoba. Reprinted in the Canadian Rockhound with permission.