Cattierite
Cattierite crystals in dolomite matrix
General
CategorySulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
CoS2
IMA symbolCat[1]
Strunz classification2.EB.05a
Crystal systemCubic
Crystal classDiploidal (m3)
H-M symbol: (2/m 3)
Space groupPa3
Unit cella = 5.52 Å; Z = 4
Identification
ColorPink to grayish white
Crystal habitCubic crystals and granular intergrowths
CleavagePerfect on {001}
Mohs scale hardness4
LusterMetallic
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity4.82
Optical propertiesIsotropic
References[2][3][4][5]

Cattierite (CoS2) is a cobalt sulfide mineral found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was discovered together with the nickel sulfide vaesite by Johannes F. Vaes, a Belgian mineralogist and named after Felicien Cattier, who was chairman of the board of the Union Minière du Haut-Katanga.[6]

The mineral belongs to the pyrite group, in which all minerals share the same building principle. The metal in the oxidation state +2 forms a sodium chloride structure together with the anion S22−. This formalism recognizes that the sulfur atoms in pyrite occur in pairs with clear S-S bonds.

It occurs with pyrite, chalcopyrite and members of the linnaeitepolydymite group in ore deposits in carbonate rocks. In addition to the type locality in the Katanga district it is reported from Gansberg, Black Forest, Germany; near Filipstad, Varmland, Sweden; Bald Knob, near Sparta, Alleghany County, North Carolina and in the Fletcher mine of Reynolds County, Missouri.[3]

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. Mineralienatlas
  3. 1 2 Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. Fact sheet from Mindat.org
  5. Fact sheet from Webmineral
  6. Kerr, Paul F. (1945). "Cattierite and Vaesite: New Co-Ni Minerals from the Belgian Kongo" (PDF). 30: 483–492. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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