What skutterudite is
Skutterudite is a cobalt arsenide, ideally CoAs₃, with nickel and iron replacing part of the cobalt; nickel-rich material is called nickel-skutterudite. It crystallises in the cubic system as cubes, octahedra and combinations, with a bright tin-white metallic lustre that tarnishes grey or iridescent.
It is a primary cobalt ore. When it weathers it releases cobalt and arsenic that recombine as erythrite, the magenta cobalt bloom. That is why the two are found together at Bou Azzer.
Skutterudite from Bou Azzer
English Wikipedia illustrates skutterudite with a Bou Azzer crystal, and French Wikipedia with a 13 × 11 cm Bou Azzer specimen with nickeline. Dealers list Bou Azzer pieces from several workings, including the Aghbar mine, often with calcite, erythrite or roselite.
What skutterudite costs: price data from October 2026
Asking prices read on 28 October 2026. Sharp, bright, well-formed crystals cost far more than massive ore.
| Source | Listings | Price |
|---|---|---|
| eBay, Bou Azzer skutterudite, fixed price | 107 | Median $35, middle half $15 to $222 |
| eBay, highest listing | $700 |
Safety and care
Skutterudite is about 79% arsenic by weight. Handle it only briefly, wash your hands afterwards, keep it in a closed case away from children and pets, and never cut, grind, heat or ingest it.
Store it dry: humidity speeds up tarnish and surface alteration. Dust it with a blower; never wash it.
Questions collectors ask
Is skutterudite dangerous?
It is about 79% arsenic. Brief handling is safe if you wash your hands afterwards; never cut, grind, heat or ingest it, and keep it in a closed case.
What is the link between skutterudite and erythrite?
Erythrite forms when cobalt arsenides such as skutterudite weather. Both come from the Bou Azzer district.
How much is skutterudite worth?
On 28 October 2026, fixed-price eBay listings for Bou Azzer skutterudite had a median asking price of $35, with the middle half between $15 and $222.