Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of a serpentinite-derived laterite profile from East Sulawesi, Indonesia: Implications for the lateritization process and Ni supergene enrichment in the tropical rainforest

Fu, Wei; Yang, Jianwen; Yang, Mengli; Pang, Baocheng; Liu, Xi Jun; Niu, Hujie; Huang, Xiaorong

doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2014.06.030

Cited by 40 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, according to the above evidence, we speculate that the Yuanjiang profile is a product of weak to moderate level lateritization process. This relatively less intense lateritization degree of regolith may provide a possible explanation of why no garnierite ore was observed in Yuanjiang deposit, which is usually considered as a product of strong infiltration process under highly lateritization condition [15,24,45,46]. This situation of Yuanjiang deposit is similar to the Riddle deposit in Oregon, USA, where there is no significant garnierite-type mineralization within the Ni-bearing silicate zone either.…”

Section: Mineral Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 79%

“…It is higher than other previously reported cases in modern rainforest condition. For instance, the Kolonodale lateritic Ni profile on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, shows an S/SAF value ranging 0.04-0.66 [15]. In addition, in the SiO2-Al2O3-Fe2O3 ternary diagram (Figure 9), the samples are plotted in the weak to moderate lateritization domain.…”

Section: Lateritization Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous authors have mathematically used mass-balance calculations to estimate losses or gains of elements with the rock weathering, and various methods of the mass-balance calculation have been proposed. One possible choice is the chemical compositions based method [63][64][65][66][67][68], in which an immobile element selection is needed for normalization of compositions of the lateritic profiles [15,69,70]. However, in practical applications, discussion of which elements to use for mass balance calculations is commonly difficult.…”

Section: Mechanism Of Ni Mineralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Genetically, it is associated with obducted ophiolite complexes in accretionary belts or komatiites and layered ultramafic rocks in stable cratonic blocks [4,5]. In the last two decades, lateritic Ni deposit have received increasing attention in both the economic geology and exploration communities [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18], largely due to the development of metallurgical technology for lateritic Ni ores and the shortage of sulfide Ni resources [19]. Ni laterites are also considered worthy targets for critical metals (REE, Sc, PGE, etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(5) Mode of occurrence of the lateritic Ni deposits are controlled by a combination of geological, climatic, topographic, and hydrologic parameters [4,5,7], especially the importance of topographic-hydrologic controlling on its ore grade is highly concerned in recent studies [25][26][27]. (6) Some lateritic deposits may have been products of multiphase chemical weathering, and their preservation reflects balance between weathering and erosion [3,15,21]. Despite the general understanding in the formation and genesis of lateritic Ni deposits, details on processes and evolution of supergene Ni enrichment remain enigmatic due to the complex parent rock lithologies and local environmental conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Weathering of Ophiolite Remnant and Formation of Ni Laterite in a Strong Uplifted Tectonic Region (Yuanjiang, Southwest China)

Feng

Luo

et al. 2019

Minerals

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Yuanjiang Ni deposit in southwestern margin of the Yunnan Plateau is the only economically important lateritic Ni deposit in China. It contains 21.2 Mt ore with an average grade of 1.05 wt % Ni and has been recognized as the second largest Ni producer in China following the Jinchuan super-large magmatic Ni–Cu deposit. This Ni deposit is hosted within the lateritic regolith derived from serpentinite within the regional Paleo-Tethyan Ophiolite remnants. Local landscape controls the distribution of the Ni mineralized regolith, and spatially it is characterized by developing on several stepped planation surfaces. Three types of lateritic Ni ores are identified based on Ni-hosting minerals, namely oxide ore, oxide-silicate mixed ore and silicate ore. In the dominant silicate ore, two phyllosilicate minerals (serpentine and talc) are the Ni-host minerals. Their Ni compositions, however, are remarkably different. Serpentine (0.34–1.2 wt % Ni) has a higher Ni concentration than talc (0.18–0.26 wt % Ni), indicating that the serpentine is more significantly enriched in Ni during weathering process compared to talc. This explains why talc veining reduces Ni grade. The geochemical index (S/SAF value = 0.33–0.81, UMIA values = 17–60) indicates that the serpentinite-derived regolith has experienced, at least, weak to moderate lateritization. Based on several lines of paleoclimate evidence, the history of lateritization at Yuanjiang area probably dates to the Oligocene-Miocene boundary and has extended to the present. With a hydrology-controlled lateritization process ongoing, continuous operation of Ni migration from the serpentinite-forming minerals to weathered minerals (goethite and serpentine) gave rise to the development of three types of Ni ore in the regolith. Notably, the formation and preservation of the Yuanjiang lateritic Ni deposit has been strongly impacted by regional multi-staged tectonic uplift during the development of Yunnan Plateau. This active tectonic setting has promoted weathering of serpentinite and supergene Ni enrichment, but is also responsible for its partial erosion.

show abstract

Section: Mineral Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Lateritization Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mechanism Of Ni Mineralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Weathering of Ophiolite Remnant and Formation of Ni Laterite in a Strong Uplifted Tectonic Region (Yuanjiang, Southwest China)

Feng

Luo

et al. 2019

Minerals

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Ophiolite-Associated Cu, Ni, and Cr Deposits

Hamdy

Khedr

2020

Regional Geology Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

3D modeling of the laterites on top of the Koniambo Massif, New Caledonia: refinement of the per descensum lateritic model for nickel mineralization

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

International audienceResulting from the weathering of the Peridotite Nappe, laterites are abundant in New Caledonia and host one of the largest nickel deposits worldwide. This work presents a 3D model of the Koniambo nickel laterite ore deposit. It shows that the laterites are located along the ridges of the massif and organized as hectometric-sized patches obliquely cut by the topography and distributed at various elevations. Three kinds of geometry were observed: (i) a thick laterite cover (between 20 and 40 m) overlying saprolite and mainly localized on topographic highs, (ii) a thin laterite cover (from a few meters to 20 m) mainly localized on areas with gentle slopes, and (iii) exposure of saprolite without laterite cover. Our data show that Ni-rich and Ni-poor areas are organized as hectometric-sized patches which broadly correlate with the distribution of the laterite thickness. The highest Ni areas are localized on slopes where laterite cover is thin or absent. The areas with lowest Ni are located in topographic highs under the thickest laterite cover. The vertical Ni mass balance for each borehole shows that, in areas with thick laterite cover, Ni is sub-equilibrated to slightly depleted whereas in areas with thin laterite cover, Ni is enriched. This suggests the existence of lateral infiltration of water rich in dissolved Ni, from areas such as topographic highs to downstream slope areas, in a process leading to enrichment of saprolite in Ni in slope areas. Mechanical transport and leaching of laterite material on slopes, including Ni-bearing material, could also contribute to local enrichment of Ni in the saprolite

show abstract

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of a serpentinite-derived laterite profile from East Sulawesi, Indonesia: Implications for the lateritization process and Ni supergene enrichment in the tropical rainforest

Cited by 40 publications

References 45 publications

Weathering of Ophiolite Remnant and Formation of Ni Laterite in a Strong Uplifted Tectonic Region (Yuanjiang, Southwest China)

Weathering of Ophiolite Remnant and Formation of Ni Laterite in a Strong Uplifted Tectonic Region (Yuanjiang, Southwest China)

Ophiolite-Associated Cu, Ni, and Cr Deposits

3D modeling of the laterites on top of the Koniambo Massif, New Caledonia: refinement of the per descensum lateritic model for nickel mineralization

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About