Gaspéite — Photo: DENIS Aline · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gaspéite
A very rare nickel carbonate — the nickel member of the calcite group — named for the Gaspé Peninsula of Québec where it was first described.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Gaspéite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula Ni(CO₃).
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R-3c). It is a member of the Calcite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.75; specific gravity 3.71; Yellow-green streak; Vitreous to dull luster; refractive index 1.724; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Gpé, IMA status: approved, named in 1965.
Occurs as 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).
It is found associated with Millerite, nickeline, annabergite, gersdorffite, polydymite, heazlewoodite, magnesite, spinel, dolomite (Gaspe Peninsula, Canada); pecoraite, magnesite.
The name refers to the original locality on the Gaspe Peninsula, Canada.