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. Streak: yellow-green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. 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: Chrysoprase is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 4.5-5); streak differs, so Gaspéite leaves yellow-green, Chrysoprase leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Gaspéite leaves yellow-green, Magnesite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Gaspéite leaves yellow-green, Variscite leaves white.
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
- NiCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 3.71 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow-green
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, crusts, botryoidal
- Cleavage
- Good on {1011}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- 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)
Where rockhounds find gaspéite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found in a prospect pit near Mount Albert, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, Canada
- Western Australia, from the Otway nickel prospect, near Spinnaway, Nullagine district
- Otter Shoot gossan, Kambalda, 56 km south of Kalgoorlie
- Rocky's Reward pit, near Agnew
- Found at Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Mabilikwe Hill, Pafuri, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: 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). If you start seeing millerite, nickeline, annabergite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, crusts, botryoidal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify gaspéite?+
Where is gaspéite found?+
Is gaspéite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like gaspéite?+
What minerals are found with gaspéite?+
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Find gaspéite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
