Guite is a rare cobalt oxide. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2017. It was first described from the Sicomines copper-cobalt mine, ~11 km southwest of Kolwezi City, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Is this guite?
4-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 guite with a known reference. Guite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Guite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside guite
Minerals reported to co-occur with guite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Co²⁺Co³⁺₂O₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 5.36 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- chromitite deposits
Where rockhounds find guite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sicomines copper-cobalt mine, ~11 km southwest of Kolwezi City, Democratic Republic of Congo
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: chromitite deposits. If you start seeing chromite, uvarovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify guite?+
Where is guite found?+
Is guite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like guite?+
What minerals are found with guite?+
What kind of rock does guite form in?+
What is guite used for?+
Find guite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
