Gaspeite is a rare green mineral. It was named after the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, Canada, the location of where it was first discovered and described in 1977. The discovery of gaspeite is credited to renowned American mineralogists, D.W. Kohls and J.L. Rodda. Initially, it was discarded as a worthless byproduct of nickel sulfide mining.
Gaspeite is considered to be one of the newer gemstones on the market, it has recently become very popular among gem and mineral collectors, mostly credited to its rarity and its slight similarity in appearance to rare green turquoise. Gaspeite is typically pale green to yellowish-green to bright apple-green in color, often accompanied by brownish veins of rock that run through the material at various depths. Gaspeite crystals are typically translucent, but when found in its natural state, gaspeite is opaque.
Gaspeite is typically shaped and polished attractive apple-green color (often veined) cabochons and beads for jewelry use. On rare occasions, it may be faceted for collectors or for display purposes. The most common shapes are plain-cut ovals, rounds and cushions. Fancy shapes are quite rare, as are calibrated sizes. Gaspeite is often carved into ornamental objects and animal figurines and traded in rough crystal form. Specimens may also be polished or sliced into slabs when sold on the market.
Gaspeite is an extremely rare mineral, which belongs to the calcite group of minerals, and is known to occur in a small number of locations around the world. Aside from its type locality in Canada, some of the more significant deposits are found in in New Mexico, USA, also in Australia, Greece, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Germany, and Kazakhstan. Most gem-quality specimens available today are sourced from Western Australia or New Mexico, USA.
