Cattierite (CoS2) is a cobalt sulfide mineral found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a mineral consisting of cobalt sulfide and belonging to the pyrite group. It was discovered together with the nickel sulfide vaesite by Johannes F. Vaes, a Belgian mineralogist and named after Felicien Cattier, Chairman of the Board, Union Miniere du Haut Katanga.
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.
General Information
- Category: Sulfide mineral
- Formula: CoS2
- Crystal system: Cubic
- Crystal class: Diploidal (m3)
Properties
- Color: Pink to grayish white
- Crystal habit: Cubic crystals and granular intergrowths
- Cleavage: Perfect on {001}
- Mohs scale hardness: 4
- Luster: Metallic
- Diaphaneity: Opaque
- Specific gravity: 4.82
Occurrences
It occurs with pyrite, chalcopyrite, and members of the linnaeite – polydymite 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.
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