Mafic and ultramafic intrusions observed in the Archean formations of the Sipilou region exhibit occurrences of polymetallic sulphide. Mapping, petrographic and geochemical studies have defined magnetic facies associated with the various geological units. The results of this work reveal that cupronickel sulphides, olivines and pyroxenes as well as spinels are related to ultrabasic formations where strong magnetic facies prevail. Iron sulphides and magnetite are linked to quartzo-feldspathic and jotunite-enderbite formations, which are characterised by moderate magnetic facies. The latter are thought to be derived from anatexite remobilisation within Archean granulites, which have weak magnetic facies.

The mining company Sama Nickel-CI during its exploration activities in the Bounta area (Biankouma department, western Côte d'Ivoire) identified rocks with magmatic and metamorphic characteristics of felsic to mafic compositions mineralized in sulfide but unknown in the region. Thus, the petrographic characterization of these rocks of Bounta as well as the sulfides they contain, was carried out from macroscopic to microscopic observations. Petrographic analysis of these rocks has shown that these rocks are trondhjemite, tonalite and granodiorite (TTG) suites, composed of the main minerals (quartz, plagioclase, orthopyroxene, amphibole, feldspar) and accessory minerals (biotite, garnet) with magmatic textures supplanted by metamorphic textures. They were set up by fractional crystallization and would be products of Archean crustal anatexis formed from the partial melting of basaltic protocrust during the Liberian orogeny. The Bounta's series of trondhjemite, tonalite and granodiorite (TTG) contain speckles of sulfide (pyrite and pyrrhotite) which are disseminated in places and are relatively abundant, as well as iron oxides (magnetite) which are of low proportion.

In this study, nickeliferous soils' effects on grain legume and cereal growth as well as their potential to accumulate nickel and related micronutrients were examined. A completely randomized block design with six repetitions was set up. Samples were collected from eight points and the experiment was conducted for six weeks at the University of Man. In order to fill a plastic container, eight soil samples were used. The soil humidity was controlled with SONKIR MS02 multimeter. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), soybean (Glycine max), and maize (Zea mays) were the test plants. Each soil sample was air dried and sieved with a 2 μm mesh. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was used to carry out a chemical analysis. Statistica 7.1 was used to conduct statistical analysis like the ANOVA and correlation test. At Moyango, the soil was developed on dunite. The soil had a colour varying from 7.5YR6/2 to 10YR5/6.). The dominant oxides found were Fe2O3, SiO2, and P2O5 with wt% > 7. The soil Ni was negatively correlated with K, Ca and, V. The soils had significant effect on soybean, common bean, and maize growth. However, the negative effect was more on common bean. The lowest soybean plant’s heights were observed on plant grown on soil from the mining site. The soil had a significant effect on soybean Ni, V, Mn, and Co content. Soybean plant Ni contents were 9.20 and 7.31 wt%, respectively from plants grown on soils M1 and M2. The content of Ni in soil had significant effect on plant growth, specifically it has reduced the height of grain legumes. From the results observed, maize should be the one most suitable for cultivation in the vicinity of the Ni mining region of Foungouesso-Moyango. Further investigation is needed with more test plants to prevent population health.

South Sipilou is an area containing lateritic nickel mineralization that developed on ultramafic rocks in the department of Sipilou-Biankouma in western Ivory Coast. The objective of this study was to characterize the petrography and hydrothermal alterations affecting these ultramafic bed-rocks and to understand their involvement in lateritic nickel mineralization. Then to compare them to the ultramafic rocks already characterized in the department of Sipilou-Biankouma. Thus, the macroscopic characterization of these rocks was carried out in the field. Then, microscopic observations on the petrography and the hydrothermal alterations were made on these rocks after the preparation of thin sections in the laboratory.The results indicated that the lithologies of the ultramafic bed-rocks of South Sipilou consist of strongly serpentinized dunites, more or less harzburgitic lherzolites and olivine orthopyroxenites. Their petrographic characteristics showed a similarity with the ultramafic bed-rocks of the nickel-bearing lateritic mineralization of North Biankouma, North Sipilou and differences with those of Samapleu, Yepleu, in the department of Sipilou-Biankouma. Also, the main hydrothermal alterations of the ultramafic rocks of South Sipilou are composed of silicification, carbonation and serpentinization. Only serpentinizationcontributed to the concentration of nickel in the bed-rock and within the lateritic profile.