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Gobelinite

A valid IMA mineral species
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01811130017271953552684.jpg
Gobelinite

North mine, Cap Garonne Mine, Le Pradet, Toulon, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
05248020017272359313471.jpg
Gobelinite, etc.

Schlänger und Eichert vein, Eisenzecher Zug Mine, Eiserfeld, Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
06210120017271986745415.jpg
Gobelinite

Schlänger und Eichert vein, Eisenzecher Zug Mine, Eiserfeld, Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
01811130017271953552684.jpg
Gobelinite

North mine, Cap Garonne Mine, Le Pradet, Toulon, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
05248020017272359313471.jpg
Gobelinite, etc.

Schlänger und Eichert vein, Eisenzecher Zug Mine, Eiserfeld, Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
00551810017272471817214.jpg
Gobelinite

Schlänger und Eichert vein, Eisenzecher Zug Mine, Eiserfeld, Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
01811130017271953552684.jpg
Gobelinite

North mine, Cap Garonne Mine, Le Pradet, Toulon, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
05248020017272359313471.jpg
Gobelinite, etc.

Schlänger und Eichert vein, Eisenzecher Zug Mine, Eiserfeld, Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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About GobeliniteHide

Formula:
CoCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O
Cu may be replaced by minor amounts of either Co, Ni and/or Zn.
Colour:
Pale green, bluish green, greyish green
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.95
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Ktenasite Group
Name:
The name alludes to the Old French word gobelin, equivalent to the German word kobold, from which the name of the element cobalt was derived.
Isostructural with:
Ktenasite
The Co-dominant analogue of ktenasite and fehrite.

As mentioned in the publication of the mineral (Mills et al., 2020), the Co-rich solid solution member described by Sarp et al. (1990), with Co>Ni>Zn, may be the same species.
https://www.mindat.org/photo-224654.html might show gobelinite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
39396
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39396:0

IMA Classification of GobeliniteHide

Classification of GobeliniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
7.DD.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
GobIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of GobeliniteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale green, bluish green, greyish green
Streak:
White (with a pale-green cast)
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.95 g/cm3 (Measured)    2.907 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
For Cap Garonne material

Optical Data of GobeliniteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.576(2) nβ = 1.617(2) nγ = 1.630(2)
2V:
Measured: 58° (4), Calculated: 57.5°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.054
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.

Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).

This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure - the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are isogyres.

Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
Weak, r>v
Optical Extinction:
X = β, Y = γ, Z ≈ α
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
X = colourless, Y = green and Z = pale green.
Comments:
Data for Cap Garonne material.

Chemistry of GobeliniteHide

Mindat Formula:
CoCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O

Cu may be replaced by minor amounts of either Co, Ni and/or Zn.
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O44.730 %
Cu35.531 %
S8.965 %
Co8.238 %
H2.536 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Co, Cu, H, O, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of GobeliniteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.599(1) Å, b = 6.084(1) Å, c = 23.676(5) Å
β = 95.22(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.92 : 1 : 3.892
Unit Cell V:
803.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Blocky to thin, lath-like crystals.
Comment:
Cap Garonne material (data at 100 K); German material has: a = 5.611(1), b = 6.103(1), c = 23.808(5) Å, β = 95.18(3)° and V = 811.9(3) Å3 (at 298 K).

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
11.870 Å(100)
5.924 Å(40)
4.883 Å(10)
4.825 Å(15)
3.946 Å(15)
2.956 Å(15)
2.663 Å(20)
2.561 Å(15)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites]

Type Occurrence of GobeliniteHide

Co-Type Localities:
ⓘ North mine, Cap Garonne Mine, Le Pradet, Toulon, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
ⓘ Schlänger und Eichert vein, Eisenzecher Zug Mine, Eiserfeld, Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
General Appearance of Type Material:
Aggregates of subparallel, blocky to thin, lath-like crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of Geosciences, Museums Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia, registration number M54565 (Cap Garonne), and the Naturhistorisches Museum, Burgring 7, A-1010 Wien, Austria, registration number O 1045 (Eisenzecher Zug).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Weathering zone of Co-bearing ore deposits.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AsbolaneBrochantiteCerussiteDevillineGordaite
GuarinoiteLangiteMalachiteMuscoviteSpherocobaltite
Thérèsemagnanite
Reference:
Mills, Stuart J., Kolitsch, Uwe, Favreau, Georges, Birch, William D., Galea-Clolus, Valérie, Henrich, Johannes Markus (2020) Gobelinite, the Co analogue of ktenasite from Cap Garonne, France, and Eisenzecher Zug, Germany. European Journal of Mineralogy, 32 (6) 637-644 doi:10.5194/ejm-32-637-2020

Synonyms of GobeliniteHide

Other Language Names for GobeliniteHide

German:Gobelinit

Relationship of Gobelinite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Ktenasite Group
Other Members of Ktenasite Group:
AsagiiteNiCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
FehriteMgCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
KtenasiteZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
'Unnamed (Zn-analogue of Ktenasite)'Zn(Zn,Cu)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Gobelinite associated with CarrolliteCuCo2S4

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.DD.AsagiiteNiCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.05FelsőbányaiteAl4(SO4)(OH)10 · 4H2OMon. 2 : P21
7.DD.07LlantenesiteCu6Al[SeO4](OH)12Cl · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DD.10LangiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2OMon. m
7.DD.10FehriteMgCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.10PosnjakiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6 · H2OMon. m : Pm
7.DD.10WroewolfeiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2OMon. m : Pm
7.DD.15KobyasheviteCu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.DD.15SpangoliteCu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DD.15'Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline)'CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.20KtenasiteZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.25ChristeliteCu2Zn3(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.DD.30EdwardsiteCu3Cd2(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O Mon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.30NiedermayriteCdCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.DD.30SerpieriteCa(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.DD.30CampigliaiteMn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OMon. 2 : B2
7.DD.30OrthoserpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OOrth. mm2 : Pca21
7.DD.30DevillineCaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.35ShigaiteMn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DD.35Zincaluminite(Zn1-xAlx)(SO4)x/2(OH)2 · nH2O
7.DD.35ZincowoodwarditeZn1-xAlx(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2OTrig.
7.DD.35NatroglaucoceriniteZn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2OHex.
7.DD.35Hydrowoodwardite(Cu1-xAlx)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
7.DD.35Honessite(Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2OTrig.
7.DD.35Carrboydite(Ni1-xAlx)(SO4)x/2(OH)2 · nH2OHex.
7.DD.35Glaucocerinite(Zn1-xAlx)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2OHex.
7.DD.35WermlanditeMg7Al2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
7.DD.35NikischeriteFe2+6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DD.35Hydrohonessite(Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2OHex.
7.DD.35WoodwarditeCu1-xAlx(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
7.DD.35MotukoreaiteMg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
7.DD.35Mountkeithite[(Mg1-xFe3+x)(OH)2][SO4]x/2 · nH2OHex.
7.DD.40Lawsonbauerite(Mn2+,Mg)9Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.40Torreyite(Mg,Mn2+)7◻2Mn2+2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.40IsseliteCu6(SO4)(OH)10(H2O)4 · H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
7.DD.45MooreiteMg9◻2Mn2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)26 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
7.DD.45Hodgesmithite(Cu,Zn)6Zn(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2OTrig. 3 : P3
7.DD.47LahnsteiniteZn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 3H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.DD.50NamuwiteZn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2OTrig. 3 : P3
7.DD.50Minohlite(Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 8H2OHex.
7.DD.52LauraniiteCu6Cd2(SO4)2(OH)12 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.55BechereriteZn7Cu(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)]Trig. 3 : P3
7.DD.60Ramsbeckite(Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2OMon. 2/m
7.DD.65VonbezingiteCa6Cu3(SO4)3(OH)12 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.70RedgilliteCu6(SO4)(OH)10 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.75NickelalumiteNiAl4(SO4)(OH)12(H2O)3Mon. 2/m
7.DD.75KyrgyzstaniteZnAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DD.75ChalcoalumiteCuAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2OMon. 2 : P21
7.DD.80Schulenbergite(Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2OTrig. 3
7.DD.80'UM1992-30-SO:CCuHZn'(Zn,Cu)7(SO4,CO3)2(OH)10 · 3H2OTrig. 3 : P3
7.DD.80ThérèsemagnaniteNaCo4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2OTrig. 3 : P3
7.DD.80GuarinoiteZn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2OHex.
7.DD.85MontetrisaiteCu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 2H2OOrth. mm2 : Cmc21

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for GobeliniteHide

References for GobeliniteHide

Reference List:
Sarp, H., Perroud, P. & Camerola, M. (1990): Cobalt nickel-kténasite de la mine de Cap Garonne (Var), France, nouvelle variété de kténasite. Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen: 70, 333-335. (in French).
Henrich, Johannes Markus (1998) Die Königin der Eisensteingruben. Die Grube Eisenzecher Zug bei Eiserfeld im Siegerland – ein Fundort begehrter Mineralien [The Queen of the Ironstone Mines. The Eisenzecher Zug pit near Eiserfeld in Siegerland – a place where coveted minerals were found]. Mineralien-Welt, 9 (5). 16-35
Henrich, M. (2008) Neues von der Grube Eisenzecher Zug, Eiserfeld [News from the Eisenzecher Zug pit, Eiserfeld]. Mineralien-Welt, 19 (5). 16-25
Henrich, M. (2008) Sekundäre Kupfermineralien von der Grube Eisenzecher Zug im Siegerland. Lapis, 33 (5) 45
Golze, Rolf; Henrich, Markus; Hucko, Stefan; Stötzel, Norbert (2013) Siegerland & Westerwald: Bergbaugeschichte—Mineralienschätze [Siegerland & Westerwald: Mining History—Mineral Treasures—Localities]. Edition Krüger-Stiftung, Bode Verlag. p.1-800.(photo on p. 301)
Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Mills, Stuart J. (2019) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2019. CNMNC Newsletter 49. Mineralogical Magazine, 83 (3) 479-483 doi:10.1180/mgm.2019.35
Mills, Stuart J., Kolitsch, Uwe, Favreau, Georges, Birch, William D., Galea-Clolus, Valérie, Henrich, Johannes Markus (2020) Gobelinite, the Co analogue of ktenasite from Cap Garonne, France, and Eisenzecher Zug, Germany. European Journal of Mineralogy, 32 (6) 637-644 doi:10.5194/ejm-32-637-2020
(2022) Gobelinite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for GobeliniteHide

Showing 5 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
France (TL)
 
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
    • Var
      • Toulon
        • Le Pradet
          • Cap Garonne Mine
Miyawaki et al. (2019) +2 other references
Germany
 
  • North Rhine-Westphalia
    • Arnsberg
      • Siegen-Wittgenstein
        • Siegen
          • Eiserfeld
U. Kolitsch (to be published) +3 other references
Henrich (1998) +5 other references
Japan
 
  • Aichi Prefecture
    • Shinshiro city
Nishio-Hamane et al. (2023)
Switzerland
 
  • Valais
    • Saint-Maurice
      • Salvan
        • Les Marécottes
          • La Creusaz
Ansermet S.; Meisser N. (2026)
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