Perhapi_Swk
Perhapi_Swk
INCO
Exploration & Mines Development Dept.
WA, VITSL
Nickel Deposit Type
PT. INCO SOROWAKO
Exploration & Mines Development Dept.
Nickel Laterites
(soil or weathering product)
Nickel Sulphides
(mineralization/magmatism product)
WA, VITSL
Olivine is primary Ni carrying mineral (0.3-0.5%), highest concentration
of olivine occur in ultramafic rocks (peridotite), komatiite and olivine-bearing
Cummulate /gabbro.
Therefore, once we have ultramafic rocks, then we can find both Nickel
laterite and Nickel sulphide depend on existing geological conditions to support
those two ore types co-exist.
Magmatism
Equatorial Location
CUBA
PHILIPPINES
INDONESIA
NEW CALEDONIA
AUSTRALIA
LATERITES SULPHIDES WA, VITSL
Genesis of Nickel Laterites
LATERITES
• The term “Laterite” is derived from the Latin word “later” which means
brick
• Buchanan Hamilton first introduced the term in 1807 to the earthy iron
crusts that were being cut into bricks by the people of south-central India
• Currently, the term Laterite is used for soils that are rich in of iron and
aluminium, formed under the influence of chemical weathering with
special ground water conditions
• Development of laterites require:
– Availability of appropriate rocks that contain iron and aluminium
– Relatively high temperatures (to aid chemical attack)
– High rainfall (to aid chemical weathering)
– Intense leaching (to remove mobile elements)
– Strongly oxidising environment (to make sesquioxides)
– Gentle topography (to preserve the laterite once it is formed)
WA, VITSL
WHAT ARE NICKEL
LATERITES?
• Nickel laterites are residual soils that have developed
over ultramafic rocks through processes of chemical
weathering and supergene enrichment
Ultramafic Rocks/peridotite as
sources of laterite Nickel
originally come from oceanic Ultramafic
Rocks =
crust that exposed in the land olivine,
(continental margin or island pyroxene,
spinel
arc) due to specific tectonic
circumstance
Ultramafic Rocks Distribution In Indonesia
INDONESIA
Principal Nickel Laterite Deposits
SERAWAK
HALMAHERA
SULAWESI
GEBE
WEDA BAY WAIGEO IRIAN JAYA
JAVA
TIMOR
500km
WA, VITSL
Lakes area and Matano fault
Sorowako
PTI CoW
SOA
TYPICAL NICKEL LATERITE PROFILE
Red Laterite
Limonite zone
Saprolite zone
Bedrock pinnacle
LATERITE PROFILE
Laterite Zones Processes at work
WA, VITSL
Sulawesi Laterite Development
soluble
P.T. INCO
Fresh ultramafic
bedrock
Weathering process
Yellow Limonite
limonite Smectite
zone
Earthy Saprolite
ore
20
Ore with
boulders Saprolite
(Serpentine,
chlorite, Bedrock
Rocky
smectite)
ore
Bedrock
40 Bedrock
Elias, 2003
NICKEL LATERITE PROFILES
-wet and dry-
Dryer Climate Humid Climate
(Western Australia) (Indonesia)
WA
Laterite
Profile
Ferricrete
Limonite
Nontronite
Saprolite
Altered Peridotite
%Ni %Co %Mg %Fe %Ni %Co %Mg %Fe %Ni %Co %Mg %Fe
Ferricrete .2 -.5 .02 .6 35+ .2 -.5 .02 .6 35+ .2 -.5 .02 .6 35+
Limonite .6-1.4 .1-.2 1-2 45 1.2-1.7 .1-.2 1-2 45 1.2-17 .1-.2 1 -4 45
Nontronite 1.2 .08 3.5 18
Saprolite .4 .02 12.0 9 1.5 -3 .05-.1 10-20 10-25 1.5-3 .05-.1 10-30 10-20
WA, VITSL
Processing Nickel Laterite
Ores
Processing Ores Export
Pig Iron
Acid Leaching
China
Australia
Japan
Smelting Europe
Caron Process
• New Caron plants are highly unlikely (too high capital and
operating costs, too low metal recoveries)
• Costs are high- breakeven: $14/lb for 1.65% grade, $8/lb for
4% grade and around $5/lb for 7% grade.
• NPI 7% grade requires >1.9% Ni feed grade, resource limited
• Environmental pollution and energy consumption
• Many blast furnaces stopped production
Concluding Remarks
• Challenge in Nickel laterite study still exist due to
highly ore variability and its selection for the
processing technology
• The low cost hydrometallurgy will dominated the
future of laterite processing
• NPI producers are limited (limited high nickel
grade resource)
• Lets develop Nickel Laterite Resources for
benefit all stakeholders
• Low cost producers will remain survive with
current situation
Exploration of Nickel Laterite
at PT INCO
CO
PT-INCO
CONTRACT OF WORK W -Central Sulawesi 36,638 Ha
- South Sulawesi 118,387 Ha
- South East Sulawesi 63,505
Ha
(COW)
After last relinquishment
1978
Exploration of Nickel Laterite
1. Outlining of ultramafic area
2. Outlining of favourable laterite landforms
3. Reconnaissance sampling
4. Follow up sampling for Indicated resource
5. Bulk densities and upgrading tests
6. Follow-up drilling for Measured resource
7. Bulk sampling and metallurgical testing
8. Sampling methods and approach
9. Representivity of sampled profile
10.Sample preparation and analytical assay
11.Data validation and database preparation
12.Mineral Resources Estimation WA, VITSL
Laterite Landforms at Petea
Identification for good laterite landforms
Undulating morphology
Flat area at Block 2
Reconnaissance sampling
Reconnaissance sampling requires:
– Checking of very large areas
– Field mapping of ultramafic rock distribution
– Sampling density is generally low (400/500m centres)
– Sampling tools are light-weight (not requiring roads)
• Hand Auger
• Winkie Drill
• Test Pitting
• Power Auger, if areas look promising (but requires roads)
– Sampling pattern
• Randomly placed points controlled by topography
• Loosely defined grid pattern based on pace and compass
– Objective is to see if any ore-grading nickel values exist for follow-up
Outcrop identification as a part of field mapping
Outcrop of Dunite
Dunite,, Strongly fractured,
fracture filled by silica