Gaspéite is a rare nickel carbonate mineral prized for its intense apple-green color. It typically forms as massive crusts or veins in nickel-rich geological environments, making it a sought-after material for lapidary work and mineral collections.
Is this gaspéite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch gaspéite with a known reference. Gaspéite sits at Mohs 4.5-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gaspéite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gaspéite typically shows a vitreous to dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: apple green, bright green, yellowish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, crusts, botryoidal.
Often confused with
Gaspéite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Oregon Jade is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 4.5-5); luster reads vitreous to dull on Gaspéite and waxy on Oregon Jade.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to dull on Gaspéite and vitreous on Magnesite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to dull on Gaspéite and waxy on Variscite.
Often found alongside gaspéite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gaspéite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 3.7-3.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to Dull
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Crusts, Botryoidal
- Cleavage
- Perfect Rhombohedral
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Nickel-bearing Sulfide Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small specimens, high-quality cabochons vary
Where rockhounds find gaspéite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gaspé Peninsula, Canada
- Widgiemooltha, Australia
- Kambalda, Australia
- Tasmania, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in nickel-bearing sulfide deposits country — that is the host setting where gaspéite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, chalcedony, magnesite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, crusts, botryoidal habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gaspéite on the map
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