Gaspéite

gaspeite

millerite

polydymite

heazlewoodite

Images

Formula: Ni(CO3)
Anhydrous normal carbonate, calcite group, forms a series with magnesite
Specific gravity: 3.71
Hardness: 4½ to 5
Streak: Green, yellow
Colour: Light green
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Gaspéite is formed from the oxidation of nickel-rich rock (Webmin).

Localities

At the Otter Shoot Nickel Mine, Juan complex, Kambalda Nickel mines, Kambalda, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, gaspéite occurs with crystalline millerite, nickeline, annabergite, gersdorffite and magnesite (Dana).

At the Otway Ni deposit, Nullagine, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, gaspéite occurs with pecoraite, magnesite, siderite, chrysotile, antigorite, magnetite, millerite and polydymite (HOM).

At the type locality, the New Jersey Zinc Exploration Co. trench, Mont-Albert, La Haute-Gaspésie RCM, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Canada, magnesian gaspéite is a secondary mineral found as a light green, massive rock occurring in a two-foot wide vein enclosed in a vari-coloured metamorphosed siliceous dolomite. The vein consists of essentially pure magnesian gaspéite with minor amounts of annabergite, magnesite and dolomite. Enclosed in the magnesian gaspéite is a small amount of serpentine and chrome spinel. Well-formed crystals of millerite, nickeline, annabergite, gersdorffite and magnesite are found outside the vein in the siliceous dolomite (AM 51.677-684). Other associated minerals include polydymite and heazlewoodite (HOM).

At the Nakauri mine, Shinshiro city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, gaspéite is associated with glaukosphaerite, mcguinnessite and jamborite (HOM).

At the Bon Accord Ni deposit, Barberton, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, South Africa, gaspéite is formed possibly from alteration of a nickel-rich meteorite. Associated minerals include liebenbergite, trevorite, nickeloan ludwigite, bunsenite, violarite, millerite and nimite (HOM).

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