
COBALT AND NICKEL. 167 
Asbolite.—-Harthy Cobalt. Black Cobalt Oxide. 
Earthy, massive. Color black or blue-black. Soluble in 
muriatice acid, with an evolution of fumes of chlorine. 
Obs. Occurs in an earthy state mixed with oxide of man- 
ganese as a bog ore, or secondary product. Abundant at 
Mine La Motte, Missouri, and also near Silver Bluff, South 
Carolina. ‘The analyses vary in the proportion of oxide of 
cobalt associated with the manganese, as the compound is a 
mere mixture. Sulphide of cobalt occurs with the oxide. 
The Carolina ores afforded Cobalt oxide 24, manganese 
oxide 76. The ore from Missouri, as analyzed by Prof. 
Silliman, afforded 40 per cent. of cobalt oxide, with oxides 
of nickel, manganese, iron and copper. 
This ore has been found abroad in France, Germany, 
Austria, and England. 
The ore is purified and made into smalt, for the arts. 
Erythrite——Cobalt Bloom. Hydrous Cobalt Arsenate. 
Monoclinic. In oblique crystals having a highly perfect 
cleavage, like mica; lamin flexible in one direction. Also 
as an incrustation, and in reniform shapes, sometimes stel- 
late. 
Color, peach-red, crimson-red, rarely grayish or greenish ; 
streak a little paler, the dry powder lavender-blue. Lustre 
of lamine pearly ; earthy varieties without lustre. 'Trans- 
parent to subtranslucent. H.=1°5-2. G.=2.95. 
Composition. Co;O0;As,+8aq=Arsenic acid 38:4, oxide 
of cobalt 37:6, water 24:0. B.B. on charcoal gives arsen- 
ical fumes and fuses ; ; yields a blue glass with borax. 
The earthy ore is sometimes called peach-blossom ore, from 
its color; and also red cobalt ochre. Kéttigite is a kind 
containing zinc. 
Diff. Resembles red antimony, but that species wholly 
volatilizes before the blowpipe. From red copper ore it 
differs in giving a blue glass with borax; moreover, the 
color of the copper ore is more sombre. 
Obs. Occurs with ores of lead and silver, and other co- 
halt ores. Schneeberg, in Saxony; Saalfield, in Thuringia ; 
and Riechelsdorf, in Hessia, are noted European localities. 
It is found also in Dauphiny, Cornwall, and Cumberland. 
Valuable as an ore of cobalt when abundant. 
