THE MINERAL KOLWEZITE

Chemistry: (Cu, Co)2CO3(OH)2, Copper Cobalt Carbonate Hydroxide.
Class: Carbonate
Group: Rosasite
Uses: A very minor ore of copper and cobalt, and as mineral specimens.
Specimens

Kolwezite is a rare mineral that is a similar mineral to the much more common and well-known mineral malachite. Malachite's formula is Cu2CO3(OH)2. Kolwezite contains a significant percentage of cobalt in place of some of the copper in malachite.

Cobalt and copper are two very strong coloring agents. Unfortunately, kolwezite is perhaps too strongly colored and is commonly black. It was only identified in the past fifteen years making it a rather "young" mineral in the mineral world. It is named for the famous mines at Kolwezi, Shaba, Zaire from where it was first discovered and from where many new and rare minerals are found.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is black, green to brown.
Luster is
Transparency is translucent.
Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
Crystal Habits include prismatic to acicular crystal sprays and crusts.
Hardness is 4.
Specific Gravity is 4.0 (slightly heavy)
Associated Minerals include malachite, siderite, cobaltian calcite and sphaerocobaltite.
Notable Occurrences are limited to Kolwezi area of Shaba, Zaire.
Best Field Indicators are color, locality, density and hardness.

Amethyst Galleries'
Mineral Gallery
MINERALS

By Name

Groupings
(By Class, Gemstones, Birthstones, etc.)

Properties

Rocks

Search

View Cart

Books

This site awarded

See Steve's video interview about asteroid capture at Moonandback: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
See Steve's blog Ramblings On The Future Of Humanity (recent post) A Project Plan for Space Based Solar Power You can make a difference! Help President Obama, NASA, and the people of Earth. See the Apophis Challenge for solutions to - Global Warming - Global Energy - Man in Space - Preventing the next Extinction Level Event