Safflorite is a cobalt arsenide mineral that typically forms tin-white, metallic masses or prismatic crystals in hydrothermal deposits. It is often found alongside other cobalt-nickel arsenides and is frequently identified by its characteristic metallic luster and tarnish, though it is difficult to distinguish from skutterudite and loellingite without analytical testing.
Is this safflorite?
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 safflorite with a known reference. Safflorite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tin white, gray, dark gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, radial.
Often confused with
Safflorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside safflorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with safflorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CoAs₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 7.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, radial
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {100}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of cobalt
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veins of moderate temperature and pressure
Where rockhounds find safflorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Quartzburg district, Grant Co., Oregon, USA
- Cobalt and South Lorrain, Ontario, Canada
- Great Bear Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Schneeberg and Annaberg, Saxony, Germany
- Bieber and Mackenheim, Hesse, Germany
- St. Andreasberg, in the Harz Mountains, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veins of moderate temperature and pressure. If you start seeing skutterudite, rammelsbergite, nickeline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify safflorite?+
Where is safflorite found?+
Is safflorite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like safflorite?+
What minerals are found with safflorite?+
What kind of rock does safflorite form in?+
What is safflorite used for?+
Find safflorite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
