Click on a letter above to view the list of gems.    

  

 


Gaspéite
Current inventory: 0 gems
 

   

Gaspeite

Chemistry:  (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO3

Discovered in 1966; IMA status: Approved 1966
Gasp
éite is named after the locality of discovery; Gaspé Peninsula, Québec, Canada.

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Carbonates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/B.02-80

 

5/B.02-80
5 : Nitrates, Carbonates & Borates
B : Waterfree carbonates without unfamiliar anions
02 : Calcite group

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Trigonal - Hexagonal Scalenohedral

Crystal Habit:

As aggregates of rhombic crystals, to 0.6 mm; in nodular concretions, commonly compact massive.

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

[1011] Good

Fracture:

Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.5 - 5.0

Density:

3.71 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

Color:

Light Green to Bright Grass Green, Olive Green

Transparency:

Translucent to Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous, Dull

Refractive Index:

1.610 - 1.830  Uniaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.220

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

n/a

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

An uncommon secondary mineral in a Ni-sulfide-bearing vein in metamorphosed siliceous dolostone (Gaspe Peninsula, Canada); possibly from alteration of a nickel-rich meteorite (Bon Accord, South Africa).

Type Locality:

Gaspé Peninsula, Lemieux Township, Gaspé-Ouest County, Québec, Canada

Year Discovered:

1966

View mineral photos:

Gaspeite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 

Gaspéite is a rare mineral that belongs to the Calcite group of minerals that includes Calcite, Cobaltocalcite, Magnesite, Rhodochrosite, Siderite, Smithsonite and Spherocobaltite. Gaspéite is being used in the jewelry trade for beads, cabochons, pendants and carvings. Its pale to bright green colors are unique and the material takes a good shine. It has a high nickel content of about 33%. Gaspéite was discovered near Mount Albert, Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, Canada but currently the main source is near a tiny outback town called Widgiemooltha, north of Perth in Western Australia. It has also been found at Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, Japan; on Mabilikwe Hill, Pafuri, South Africa; and the San Benedetto mine, Iglesias district, Sardinia, Italy.

Gaspéite gems for sale:

We have not photographed the Gaspéite gems. Please check back soon.



I love Sarah