Garnierite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameGarnierite
Chemical Formula(Ni,Mg)3Si2O5(OH)4
Mohs Hardness2.5
Crystal Systemamorphous
Lusterdull
Streak Colorpale green to white
Cleavagenone to poor
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity2.75
Colorsapple-green, yellowish-green, light green
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalityCamps des sapins Mine, Thio, North Province, New Caledonia
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesindustrial (nickel ore)
Associated Mineralsserpentine, chromite, magnetite
Raritycommon
Description
This specimen is a roughly triangular piece of vibrant apple-green material with a dull, earthy texture, showing some darker brown and reddish-brown patches of matrix.
Geological Context
Garnierite is a secondary mineral formed in the lateritic weathering profiles of ultramafic rocks, where nickel-rich silicates are altered. It is a crucial ore mineral for nickel, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
