Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Garnierite From the Morowali Ni-Laterite Deposit in Sulawesi, Indonesia SCIE SCOPUS

Cited 2 time in WEB OF SCIENCE Cited 4 time in Scopus
Title
Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Garnierite From the Morowali Ni-Laterite Deposit in Sulawesi, Indonesia
Author(s)
Choi, Yuri; Lee, Insung; Moon, Inkyeong
KIOST Author(s)
Moon, Inkyeong(문인경)
Alternative Author(s)
문인경
Publication Year
2021-11
Abstract
The Morowali Ni-laterite deposit is located in the East Sulawesi Ophiolite, which is a large ophiolite belt on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The Morowali deposit is developed on a laterite profile due to ophiolite weathering, with saprolite, limonite, and ferruginous cap horizons from the bottom to top. Based on the occurrence of garnierite as the main ore, occurring in the saprolite horizon, it can be classified that the ore deposit is hydrous Mg silicate-type. The Ni ore is classified into different types based on color and XRD and electron probe micro-analyzer analyses. Whole-rock geochemical study was also conducted to understand the mineralization process. The Morowali Ni deposit consists of serpentine-like and talc-like phases. The serpentine-like phase consists of Ni-lizardite and karpinskite (0.76-38.26 wt% NiO) while the talc-like phase is mainly composed of kerolite (4.02-8.02 wt% NiO). The serpentine-like garnierite exhibits high Ni and Fe contents and occurrence similar to that of the serpentine observed in the saprolite horizon, suggesting the serpentine-like garnierite originated from the bedrock, and Mg-Ni cation exchange occurred during laterization. Contrastingly, the lower Fe content of the talc-like phase (0.01-0.05 wt%) than the serpentine-like phase (0.14-7.03 wt%) indicates that the talc-like garnierite is of secondary origin since Fe is immobile during weathering. The Morowali Ni-laterite deposit was mainly formed during laterization. The repetition of dry and wet cycles in each year results in the formation of secondary garnierite.
ISSN
2296-6463
URI
https://sciwatch.kiost.ac.kr/handle/2020.kiost/42096
DOI
10.3389/feart.2021.761748
Bibliographic Citation
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE, v.9, 2021
Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Keywords
Morowali Ni-laterite deposit; garnierite; Mg-Ni hydrous silicate; ophiolite laterization; Indonesia
Type
Article
Language
English
Document Type
Article
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