Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Arsenides
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : CoAs₂
    Rarity : Uncommon

Safflorite is one of the "white arsenides", a generic term grouping together cubic and monoclinic cobalt or nickel arsenides (skutterudite and rammelsbergite). It is found in medium-temperature hydrothermal veins associated in particular with other cobalt and nickel arsenides and native bismuth. Above 800°C, safflorite forms two complete solid solutions, one with löllingite, the other with rammelsbergite, solid solutions that become partial at low temperature. Its name comes from the German safflor or zaffer (dye product) in allusion to its use as a blue pigment. With a metallic luster and a tin-white color, safflorite generally occurs in fibrous to fibroradiated masses. Clear crystals of appreciable size are very rare, with a prismatic appearance, reminiscent of arsenopyrite. Microscopic crystals are often twinned in very characteristic structures forming 6-pointed stars. At outcrops, safflorite alters into different arsenates.

Main photo : Safflorite from Neuglück Mine, Germany © Michael Förch

Twins with 5 individuals are known on {011} and with {101} as composition plane.

No fakes listed for this mineral species.