Gaspéite
Gaspéite, a very rare nickel carbonate mineral, with the formula (Ni,Fe,Mg)CO3, is named for the place it was first described, in the Gaspé Peninsula, Québec, Canada.
| Gaspéite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Carbonate mineral, anhydrous subgroup |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (Ni,Fe,Mg)CO3 |
| IMA symbol | Gpé |
| Strunz classification | 5.AB.05 |
| Dana classification | 14.01.01.08 Calcite group |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Crystal class | Hexagonal scalenohedral (3m) H-M symbol: (3 2/m) |
| Space group | R3c |
| Identification | |
| Color | Pale green, light grass or apple green |
| Crystal habit | Rhombic crystal aggregates, nodular concretions (botryoidal), massive |
| Cleavage | {1011} Good |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Mohs scale hardness | 4.5 - 5 |
| Luster | Vitreous to dull |
| Streak | Yellow green |
| Diaphaneity | Translucnt |
| Specific gravity | 3.71 |
| Optical properties | Uniaxial (-) |
| Refractive index | nω = 1.830 nε = 1.610 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.220 |
| Solubility | HCl soluble |
| Other characteristics | Weakly magnetic |
| References | |
Gaspéite is the nickel rich member of the calcite group. A solid solution series exists between all members of this group with divalent cations readily exchanged within the common crystal structure. It forms massive to reniform papillary aggregates in fractures, botryoidal concretions in laterite or fracture infill. It is also present as stains and patinas on iron oxide boxworks of gossanous material.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.