Kambaldaite Locality: Otter Shoot Nickel mine, Otter Juan mine, Kambalda Nickel deposit, Kambalda, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australia Green crystals of Kambaldaite together with some light green waxy Gaspéite. Field of view 3 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Kambaldaite
An extremely rare hydrated sodium-nickel carbonate from the komatiitic nickel deposits of Kambalda, Western Australia.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Kambaldaite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula NaNi₄(CO₃)₃(OH)₃·3H₂O.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P6_3).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3; specific gravity 3.18; Pale green streak; Silky on fractures luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Kbd, IMA status: approved, named in 1982.
Found as a secondary mineral in goethitic residues produced through oxidation of violarite–pyrite in the presence of wallrock carbonates and saline groundwater (Kambalda, Western Australia).
It is found associated with Gaspéite, reevesite, aragonite, pyrite, goethite (Kambalda, Western Australia).
The name refers to Kambalda, Western Australia, its locality of discovery.