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Formula: Co3+O(OH)
Hydroxide
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 4.13 to 4.47 measured, 4.92 calculated
Hardness: 3 to 5
Streak: Black, brown
Colour: Black, reddish, blackish-brown
Common impurities: Ni
Environments
Heterogenite occurs as a weathering product of skutterudite, an alteration product of
linnaeite, and is widespread in residual soils above
ultramafic rocks
(Webmin).
Localities
At the Shaba province, DR Congo, heterogenite occurs as an alteration product of linnaeite,
associated with linnaeite, spherocobaltite,
malachite and cuprite
(HOM).
At the type locality, the Wolfgang Maaßen mines, Schneeberg, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany, heterogenite occurs as an alteration
product of skutterudite, with pharmacosiderite and
calcite
(Dana, HOM).
At the Bou Azzer mining district, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco, heterogenite occurs on surface exposures in strongly weathered areas
of the mines, often with erythrite. Sometimes it occurs as black flecks on which crystals of
anorthoroselite have grown
(Minrec 38.5.378).
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