Asbolane - Encyclopedia
Class : Oxides and hydroxides
Subclass : Hydroxides and hydrates
Crystal System : Rhombohedral
Chemistry : (Co,Ni)xMn(O,OH)4 nH2O
Rarity : Rare
Asbolane is a rare mineral from the psilomelane group. It is the "cobaltiferous psilomelane", present in the superficial parts of cobalt and manganese concentrations. It is surely a more common mineral than you think, but its determination is not easy with simple means. It takes its name from the Greek asbole (soot) because of its appearance. It occurs in lamellar aggregates and masses of black hue with a matte luster. The crystals are micron in size. Asbolane was anecdotally exploited for cobalt in the lateritic nickel deposits of New Caledonia.
Main photo : Asbolane de Tiébaghi Mine, New Caledonia, France © Lilian Alizert
Asbolane in the World
Twinning and special crystallizations
No twin known for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fake or treatment identified for this mineral species.
Hardness : 6
Density : 8.96
Fracture : Irregular
Trace : Brown to black
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : None
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None