Spherocobaltite Locality: Kolwezi , Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba) , Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) ( Locality at mindat.org ) This is the by far the single brightest, most fake-looking, neon-pink specimen I have ever seen of this rare material often mistaken for the more common species cobaltian calcite, composed of microcrystalline crystals forming pleasntly curvaceous spherical aggregates. Accented by a bit of aragonite, to show you the pics aren't tampered with - it really is BRIGHTER in person.. It is VIBRANT! 4 x 3.6 x 1.1 cm — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Spherocobaltite
Cobalt carbonate — the pink-to-red trigonal calcite-group mineral.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Spherocobaltite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula Co(CO₃).
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R-3c).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 4.13; Peach-blossom-red streak; Vitreous luster; refractive index 1.748; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Scbt, IMA status: approved, named in 1877.
Found as a rare accessory mineral in hydrothermal cobalt-bearing mineral deposits.
It is found associated with Roselite, erythrite, annabergite (Schneeberg, Germany); cobaltian calcite, cobaltian dolomite (Congo).
Its name comes from the Greek for sphere and cobalt in its composition.