Guite is a rare cobalt oxide. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2017. It was first described from the Sicomines copper-cobalt mine, ~11 km southwest of Kolwezi City, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Is this guite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch guite with a known reference. Guite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Guite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Guite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Guite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Guite leaves black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic on Guite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Luster reads metallic on Guite and submetallic on Manaccanite.
Often found alongside guite
Minerals reported to co-occur with guite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Co²⁺Co³⁺₂O₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 5.36 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Chromitite Deposits
Where rockhounds find guite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sicomines copper-cobalt mine, Democratic Republic of Congo
Field-hunting tip
Look in chromitite deposits country, the host setting where guite typically forms. If you start seeing chromite, uvarovite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify guite?+
Where is guite found?+
What rocks look like guite?+
What minerals are found with guite?+
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What is guite used for?+
Find guite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
