GASPEITE

    Class : Carbonates, nitrates, borates
    Subclass : Anhydrous carbonates
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO3
    Rarity : Very rare

Gaspeite is a nickel carbonate, in which the nickel can be partially replaced by iron or magnesium. It is an extremely rare secondary mineral known in the oxidation zones of nickel deposits and in practically pure veins up to 60 cm thick, associated with primary and secondary nickel minerals. It owes its name to its location of discovery : the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec (Canada). Gaspeite occurs in small rhombohedral crystals of 0.5 mm at most or regular masses of light green color. It can be cut for jewelry.

Main photo : 25.70 ct gaspeite from Australia - B. Chatenet Collection

Gaspeite from Widgiemooltha, Coolgardie Shire, Australia © Donald Doell
Gaspeite from Widgiemooltha, Coolgardie Shire, Australia © Luigi Chiappino
Gaspeite from the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, Canada © Vandall Thomas King
17.60 ct gaspeite from Canada - B. Chatenet Collection

Gaspeite in the World

Gaspeite is known from the sulphide nickel deposit of Widgiemooltha (Kambalda, Western Australia), as well as veins in the nickel-bearing dolomite of Lemieux (Quebec, Canada).

Gaspeite in France

Gaspeite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 4.5 to 5
Density : 3.71 to 3.91
Fracture : Irregular
Streak : Yellow, green

TP : Translucent
RI : 1.610 to 1.830
Birefringence : 0.220
Optical character : Uniaxial -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Acids


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None