Cattierite
Cattierite crystals in dolomite matrix
General
Category	Sulfide mineral
Formula (repeating unit)	CoS2
IMA symbol	Cat[1]
Strunz classification	2.EB.05a
Crystal system	Cubic
Crystal class	Diploidal (m3) H-M symbol: (2/m 3)
Space group	Pa3
Unit cell	a = 5.52 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Color	Pink to grayish white
Crystal habit	Cubic crystals and granular intergrowths
Cleavage	Perfect on {001}
Mohs scale hardness	4
Luster	Metallic
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	4.82
Optical properties	Isotropic
References	[2][3][4][5]

Cattierite (CoS₂) is a cobalt sulfide mineral found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was discovered together with the nickel sulfide vaesite by Johannes F. Vaes, a Belgian mineralogist and named after Felicien Cattier, who was chairman of the board of the Union Minière du Haut-Katanga.^[6]

The mineral belongs to the pyrite group, in which all minerals share the same building principle. The metal in the oxidation state +2 forms a sodium chloride structure together with the anion S₂²⁻. This formalism recognizes that the sulfur atoms in pyrite occur in pairs with clear S-S bonds.

It occurs with pyrite, chalcopyrite and members of the linnaeite – polydymite group in ore deposits in carbonate rocks. In addition to the type locality in the Katanga district it is reported from Gansberg, Black Forest, Germany; near Filipstad, Varmland, Sweden; Bald Knob, near Sparta, Alleghany County, North Carolina and in the Fletcher mine of Reynolds County, Missouri.^[3]

References