Gobelinite is an extremely rare cobalt selenite mineral typically found as small, vibrant yellow to orange-yellow platy crystals or crusts. It is known almost exclusively from the secondary oxidation zones of hydrothermal cobalt-rich deposits in Morocco, making it a highly sought-after rarity for systematic mineral collectors.
Is this gobelinite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch gobelinite with a known reference. Gobelinite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gobelinite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gobelinite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orange-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Gobelinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Cobaltite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3); streak differs — Gobelinite leaves yellow, Cobaltite leaves greyish-black; luster reads resinous on Gobelinite and metallic on Cobaltite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Gobelinite leaves yellow, Erythrite leaves pale pink; luster reads resinous on Gobelinite and adamantine to pearly on Erythrite.
Often found alongside gobelinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gobelinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Co(SeO₃)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.5-5.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Cobalt-nickel-arsenide Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find gobelinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bou Azzer district, Morocco
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal cobalt-nickel-arsenide deposits country — that is the host setting where gobelinite typically forms. If you start seeing skutterudite, malachite, erythrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gobelinite on the map
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