Information about Safflorite

Safflorite is a metallic cobalt-iron arsenide mineral with a steel-grey to silver-white colour, often tarnished to a darker grey due to oxidation.

It has a bright metallic luster and typically forms in massive, fibrous, or granular crystal habits.

Uses and History

Safflorite is an important ore of cobalt, which is used in the production of high-performance alloys, batteries, and magnets.

Due to its cobalt content, it has industrial significance, especially in the manufacture of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. In the modern age, this is becoming more and more important as we rely more and more on lithium ion and other similar forms of battery technology.

Safflorite was first described in 1835 by Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt and named after the German word “Safflor,” referring to its resemblance to certain cobalt minerals. It is commonly found in hydrothermal veins alongside other cobalt and nickel arsenides, as well as silver minerals.

The type locality for safflorite is Daniel Mine (St. Daniel Mine), Neustädtel, Schneeberg, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany.

Mineralogy

Hazards and Warnings

Toxic mineral: includes cobalt and arsenic.

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

Translations

Further Reading / External Links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safflorite
• https://www.mindat.org/min-3500.html
• http://webmineral.com/data/Safflorite.shtml
• https://handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/safflorite.pdf