Safflorite and Calcite - Locality: Bouismas Mine, Bouismas, Bou Azzer District, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco - Size of specimen 4.7 cm — Photo: Tomasz Praszkier (SpiriferMinerals.com) · CC BY 3.0
Safflorite
A cobalt-iron diarsenide of the löllingite group — a silver-white tin-white metallic mineral.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Safflorite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula CoAs₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pnnm). It is a member of the Löllingite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5–5; specific gravity 7.2; Grayish black streak; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Saf, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1835.
Found in hydrothermal veins of moderate temperature and pressure.
It is found associated with Skutterudite, rammelsbergite, nickeline, silver, bismuth, lollingite.
The name comes from safflower, in allusion to its use as a pigment.