Gaspeite is considered to be one of the newer gemstones on the market. It was named after the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, Canada; the location of where it was first described and discovered in 1977. The discovery of gaspeite is credited to renowned American mineralogists, D.W. Kohls and J.L. Rodda.

Gaspeite is an extremely rare nickel carbonate mineral, which belongs to the calcite group of minerals. Initially, it was discarded as a worthless byproduct of nickel sulfide mining.

Most gem-quality specimens available today are sourced from Western Australia or New Mexico, USA. Gaspeite is typically pale green to bright apple-green in color, often accompanied by brownish veins of rock that run through the material at various depths.

Gaspeite 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.