Optical absorption spectra of natural Co-bearing spinel and staurolite were studied at different temperatures and pressures. In both minerals two broad intense structured bands in the range 5500 -8000 cm -1 and 15000 -19000 cm -1 , caused by electronic spin-allowedare the predominant absorption features.In addition, in both cases broad bands, derived from spin-allowed electronic transitions, appear in the near infrared range partly overlapping the bands caused by IV Co 2+ .In staurolite the NIR range of the spectra are complicated by intense sharp lines of OHvibrations at around 3400 cm