Jun 3 2014
Gaspeite is a member of the calcite group of minerals. It was named after its site of discovery - the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec. It is also found in Western Australia.
Properties of Gaspeite
The following are the key properties of Gaspeite:
- Cell Data
- Space Group: [R3c] (by analogy to the calcite group)
- a = 4.608-4.621
- c = 14.805-14.93
- Z = 6
- Crystal Data
- Hexagonal
- Point Group: 3 2/m
- As aggregates of rhombic crystals, to 0.6mm
- Nodular concretions, commonly compact massive
- X-ray powder pattern: 2.741 (100), 1.692 (45), 3.543 (36), 2.098 (36), 1.932 (25), 2.317 (20), 1.337 (11)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
Content 3 |
| CO2 |
42.0 |
[35.9] |
43.36 |
| NiO |
35.0 |
55.5 |
36.79 |
| MgO |
17.3 |
2.6 |
19.85 |
| FeO |
5.7 |
0.1 |
|
| Si02 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
|
| CaO |
|
0.3 |
|
| insol. |
1.8 |
|
|
| Total |
102.7 |
[95.3] |
100.00 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical Class: Uniaxial (-)
- ω = 1.83(1)
- ε = 1.61(1)
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 3.64 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Gaspeite = 3.71 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEGaspeite = 14.72 barns/electron
U = PEGaspeite x ρElectron density = 53.54 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.01
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
Gaspeite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Gaspeite
Gaspeite can be identified due to its light green color form. It has a transparent to translucent appearance, uneven fractures, a vitreous luster, a yellow green streak, and cleavages.
The density of gaspeite is 3.71 g/cm3, and its relative hardness ranges from 4 to 5.
Global Distribution
Gaspeite is distributed in the following places:
- Mount Albert, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, Canada
- Otway nickel prospect, near Spinnaway, Nullagine district, Western Australia
- Otter Shoot gossan, Kambalda, 56km south of Kalgoorlie
- Rocky's Reward pit, near Agnew
- 132 North nickel mine, Widgiemooltha district
- Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Mabilikwe Hill, Pafuri, South Africa
- 3km west of the Scotia Talc mine, Bon Accord, Barberton district, Transvaal
- San Benedetto mine, Iglesias district, Sardinia, Italy
Occurrence of Gaspeite and Useful Mineral Association
Gaspeite occurs as an uncommon secondary mineral in a Ni-sulfide-bearing vein in metamorphosed siliceous dolostone. It can also be obtained from the alteration of a nickel-rich meteorite.
It is closely associated with minerals like nimite, millerite, violarite, bunsenite, nickeloan ludwigite, trevorite, liebenbergite, jamborite, mcguinnessite, glaukosphaerite, polydymite, magnetite, antigorite, pecoraite, siderite, spinel, heazlewoodite, polydymite, gersdorffite, and annabergite.
References