[2] It is the most abundant oxidised cobalt mineral in the Katanga Copperbelt, a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[6] In nature it is found coexisting with other minerals like smaltite, pharmacosiderite, calcite, linnaeite, sphaerocobaltite, malachite and cuprite.

[2] Heterogenite has an average grade of 64.1% cobalt, one of the highest rates among cobalt-containing minerals.

[7] Similar to most oxyhydroxides, heterogenite acts as a chemical 'sponge', trapping many trace elements such as Ni, Zn, V, As, Mo, and Pb.

[6] Heterogenite is formed by the oxidation of cobalt-sulfides and accumulated as residual deposits during a Pliocene weathering event.