Green nickel-magnesium silicate and important ore of nickel from laterite deposits. Not a single mineral but a mixture. Color: Bright green, apple green. Luster: Earthy to waxy. Streak: White to pale green. Cleavage: None. Hardness: 2-4. Transparency: Opaque. Crystal system: Amorphous to Monoclinic. Chemical formula: Ni,Mg ₃Si₂O₅ OH ₄. Specific gravity: 2.3-2.8. Formation: Forms in tropical laterite weathering profiles over ultramafic rocks as nickel concentrates in silicate phases. Common geological settings: New Caledonia, Philippines, Indonesia, Cuba; found in laterite nickel deposits. Common look-alikes and related entries: Chrysoprase, Serpentine, Chlorite.
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These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
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GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:37:37.191189+00:00
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Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Green nickel-magnesium silicate and important ore of nickel from laterite deposits. Not a single mineral but a mixture.
How can you identify Garnierite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Bright green, apple green; lustre: Earthy to waxy; streak: White to pale green; Mohs hardness: 2-4; cleavage: None; crystal system: Amorphous to Monoclinic; transparency: Opaque. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Garnierite form?
Forms in tropical laterite weathering profiles over ultramafic rocks as nickel concentrates in silicate phases.
Where is Garnierite commonly found?
New Caledonia, Philippines, Indonesia, Cuba; found in laterite nickel deposits.
What is Garnierite commonly confused with?
Garnierite may be confused with Chrysoprase, Serpentine, Chlorite. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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