Jaipurite is a rare cobalt sulfide mineral originally identified in the Khetri copper mining district of India. It typically appears as a massive, steel-grey to silver-white metallic mineral found in close association with other cobalt and copper sulfides.
Is this jaipurite?
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 jaipurite with a known reference. Jaipurite sits at Mohs 5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Jaipurite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Jaipurite leaves black, Cobaltite leaves grayish black.
How to tell apart: Jaipurite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3-3.5); streak differs, so Jaipurite leaves black, Millerite leaves greenish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Jaipurite leaves black, Linnaeite leaves grayish black.
Often found alongside jaipurite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jaipurite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CoS
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 5.45 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Doubtful species
Where rockhounds find jaipurite
Classic worldwide localities
- Khetri mines, Jaipur, India (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Doubtful species. If you start seeing cobaltite, chalcopyrite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify jaipurite?+
Where is jaipurite found?+
Is jaipurite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like jaipurite?+
What minerals are found with jaipurite?+
What kind of rock does jaipurite form in?+
What is jaipurite used for?+
Find jaipurite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
