Garnierite

Garnierite is a general name for a green nickel ore which found in pockets and veins within weathered and serpentinized ultramafic rocks. It forms through lateritic weathering of ultramafic rocks and occurs in many nickel laterite deposits worldwide.

As garnierite is not a valid mineral name according to the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC), no definite composition or formula universally adopted.

It is a green mineral, ranging from light yellow-green to dark green. The color comes from the presence of nickel in the mineral structure for magnesium. The specific gravity ranges from approximately 2.5 to 3.

Jules Garnier published his work on the geology of New Caledonia in 1867, announcing the discovery of nickel there. Garnierite named for Jules Garnier in a paper by Archibald Liversidge in 1874.