Smaltite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Smaltite is a collectors oddity, cut only as cabochons. It is seldom seen in collections since it is not especially distinctive, with a color resembling other metallic sulfides and arsenides.
Smaltite is a collectors oddity, cut only as cabochons. It is seldom seen in collections since it is not especially distinctive, with a color resembling other metallic sulfides and arsenides.
Streak: Black.
Occurrence: Occurs in medium- to high-temperature veins, with Ni and Co minerals.
California; Colorado.
Cobalt district. Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.
Chile; Switzerland: Germany.
Comments: Smaltite is a collectors oddity, cut only as cabochons. It is seldom seen in collections since it is not especially distinctive, with a color resembling other metallic sulfides and arsenides.
Name: From its use as a source of cobalt for the pigment smalt, which is blue.
Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA
Dr. Joel E. Arem has more than 60 years of experience in the world of gems and minerals. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from Harvard University, he has published numerous books that are still among the most widely used references and guidebooks on crystals, gems and minerals in the world.
Co-founder and President of numerous organizations, Dr. Arem has enjoyed a lifelong career in mineralogy and gemology. He has been a Smithsonian scientist and Curator, a consultant to many well-known companies and institutions, and a prolific author and speaker. Although his main activities have been as a gem cutter and dealer, his focus has always been education. joelarem.com
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