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.