Specifications
Description
Locality: Bou Azzer Mine, Ouisselsate Caïdat, Amerzgane Cercle, Ouarzazate Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
Description: This skutterudite comes from Bou Azzer, one of the few places in the world mined mainly for cobalt. Most of the world's cobalt is a by-product of copper or nickel mining, but at Bou Azzer cobalt is the main prize. The deposit sits in the Anti-Atlas mountains, about 120 km southwest of Ouarzazate, in a slice of ancient ocean-floor rock called an ophiolite. That rock was altered to serpentinite.
Hot, very salty fluids, more than 30% dissolved salts, leached cobalt and nickel and carried them through the rock. As the fluids cooled from about 320 °C to below 200 °C, they dropped cobalt-nickel-iron arsenides like skutterudite. The ore formed mostly where the serpentinite meets harder rocks such as diorite. Geologists still debate exactly when the ore formed.
Local people knew the pink cobalt bloom, erythrite, long before any mine, and used it as an insecticide and rat poison. Managem tells the story that a geologist spotted erythrite for sale in Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fna square in 1928, which led to the find. Prospecting began in 1929, artisanal mining in 1932, and industrial mining in 1934. The mine closed in 1983 when reserves ran low. It reopened after new ore was found in 1987, and Managem still operates it today.
The mineral itself is named after Skuterud in Norway, where it was first described. This 3.3 kg piece is dense and metallic silver-grey.
In crystal traditions, skutterudite is associated with transformation and grounding.
Chemical Composition: CoAs3
Chakra: Root
Size: 20cm x 15cm x 10cm
Weight: 3.3kg
Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph. We do what we can to buy good quality products and price them honestly. The rocks may differ from the photos, but we hope we do them justice.