Smaltite is a rare mineral primarily composed of cobalt and arsenic, often found in hydrothermal veins. It typically appears as metallic, grayish-black crystals and has a hardness of about 5.5 on the Mohs scale. Smaltite is notable for its high cobalt content, making it an important source of this valuable metal. The mineral is often associated with other cobalt-bearing minerals, such as cobaltite and erythrite. Smaltite can be found in various locations worldwide, including regions in Canada and Germany. Due to its rarity and specific geological conditions required for its formation, smaltite is of interest to mineral collectors and geologists.