9-Early Magmatic & Nickel Laterite Deposit

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P.T. INCO

NICKEL LATERITES

Formation & Mineralogy,Exploration, Mining, and

Processing Method

March 2006



P.T. INCO

NICKEL LATERITES FORMATION



P.T. INCO WHAT ARE NICKEL LATERITES?

• Nickel laterites are residual soils that have developed

over ultramafic rocks through processes of chemical

weathering and supergene enrichment

•Critical conditions for the formation of nickel laterites:

Appropriate accumulation of soil

Appropriate rock type

Appropriate weathering conditions Appropriate conditions for supergene enrichment



P.T. INCO TYPICAL LATERITE PROFILE

Red Laterite

Limonitezone

Saprolitezone

Bedrock pinnacle



P.T. INCO APPROACH TO LATERITE STUDY

• Study of Laterites requires a good knowledge of the

relevant principles of:

Chemistry

Mineralogy

Petrology

Geomorphology

Soil formation

Processing constraints & technology



P.T. INCO

MINERALOGY



P.T. INCO MINERALS ASSOCIATED WITH LATERITES

Primaryigneous

minerals

OlivinePyroxene

MagnetiteChromite

Mafics Spinels

Hydrothermal

minerals

Serpentine

Talc

Chlorite

Laterite

weathering

minerals

Oxides &

Hydroxides

Hematite

Goethite

Limonite

BauxiteGibbsite

Secondary:

Serpentine

Talc

Chlorite

Nickel

Silicates

Garnierites:

Nepouite

Willemsite

PimelliteNimite



P.T. INCO LATERITE MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS

H2O

MgO FeO

SiO2

Fe2O3H2O

Fo

Fa

En

Fs

Serp.

Talc

Magnesioferrite

Hematite

Magnetite

GoethiteLimonite

Xanthosiderite

Esmeraldaite

OLIV

PYXChlor.

Brucite



P.T. INCO OLIVINES — Formation

• Forsterite crystallises first (higher melting temperature)

• If the olivine is allowed to react with the liquid magma, it

will change its composition towards ferrous olivine

• As the larger ferrous cations replace the smaller Mg

cations, the melting temperature is progressively

reduced

• If the original magma has more silica than can be used

by the olivines (> 40%), then the more sil iceous mafic

minerals such as pyroxenes will be formed

• Olivines can take up to 0.5% of NiO (0.4% Ni)

• Ni occurs as replacement of Mg atoms by Ni atoms



P.T. INCO OLIVINES — Formation

MAGMAForsterite forms first

High melting temp.

Crystals

settle on

the bottomof magma

chamber.

Original

Forsteritecomposition

preserved

Crystals

allowed to

react withmagma

Magma with < 40% SiO2

Only olivine forms. Successivecrystals richer in Fayalite.

Magma with > 40% SiO2

Pyroxenes form, depending onsil ica availabili ty.



P.T. INCO ALTERATION OF OLIVINE

MgO SiO2

H2O

Fo En

Talc

Serpentine

Alteration of Forsterite

+800°C: Fo to En

625-800°C: Fo to En to Talc

500-625°C: Fo to Talc200-500°C: Fo to Serpentine

Hydrothermal

Magmatic



P.T. INCO GARNIERITE GROUP

SiO2

MgO NiO

Kerolite - Talc

Serpentine Pimelite

Nepouite

7°A basal

spacing

GARNIERITES

Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.nH2O

Mg3Si2O5(OH)4

Ni3Si4O10(OH)2.H2O

Ni3Si2O5(OH)4

10°A basal

spacing



P.T. INCO WORLD’S SERPENTINE BELTS



P.T. INCO STRUCTURE OF OCEANIC CRUST

Marine Sediments

Ocean basalts

Mantle Peridotites

Layer

Seismic

Velocity

1 2.0 km/sec

2 5.1 km/sec

3 6.7 km/sec

4 8.1 km/sec

Thickness

0 – 4 km

1 – 2.5 km

5 km

0.5 km

O c e ani c C r u s t

5 – 8 k m

Sea Level

8.1 km/sec

Metamorphic

Grade

Zeolite

Greenschist

Amphibolite

Mohorovicic

Discontinuity

Layered Peridotite

Gabbros



P.T. INCO Ni IN ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS

• Ni in ultramafic rocks is primarily in mafic minerals

High in olivines (0.2 – 0.3% Ni)

Low in orthopyroxenes (0.05 – 0.1% Ni) Very low in clinopyroxenes (< 0.05% Ni)

• Thus, decrease in the olivine content of the ultramafic reduces the

overall nickel content of the rock:

Highest Ni grades in dunites Lower Ni grades in peridotites

Lowest Ni grades in pyroxenites

• Ni in mafic minerals is largely as a replacement of Mg

• Some Ni may exist as replacement of the larger Fe atoms

• Primary chromite and magnetite may contain minor Ni



P.T. INCO WEATHERING

Four major processes under which rocks change their physical or

chemical properties:

Melting (at very high temperatures)

Metamorphism (high temperatures / pressure / addition)

Hydrothermal alteration (through high-temperature fluids)

Weathering (at ordinary temperatures and pressure)

Types of weathering:

Physical (mechanical breakdown of rocks) erosion, thermal expansion/contraction, action of plants

Chemical (breakdown of rocks through chemical processes)

contact with water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.



P.T. INCO CHEMICAL WEATHERING

“ The process in which rocks react to atmospheric, hydrospheric and

biologic agencies to produce mineral phases that are more stable”

1. HydrolysisOxygen, carbon dioxide, ground water, dissolved acids attack the

minerals in the rock

2. Oxidation

Elements released by chemical weathering are oxidised

3. Hydration

Reaction with water adds the hydroxyl ion to newly formed minerals

4. Solution

The more soluble products of weathering are dissolved and removed

And the cycle continues .....



P.T. INCO CONDITIONS FOR CHEMICAL WEATHERING

RAIN AND THUNDER STORMS

Nitrous oxides, CO2

HUMOUS (Organic) LAYER

WATER TABLE

ZONE OF OXIDATION

(Reducing conditions)

(Reducing conditions)

Acidic

Rain

Acidic

Rain



P.T. INCO Elemental Mobilit ies

• Many metallic elements are soluble in

ground waters

• Solubil ities generally increase withtemperature

• Solubil ities are a function of pH (acidity)

and Eh (redox) conditions

Mobilit ies of elements found in ultramafic

rocks are generally classified as:

• Highly soluble = Ca, Na, Mg, K, Si

• Non-soluble = Al, Fe+++, Cr, Ti, Mn, Co

• Variably soluble = Ni, Fe++

Relative

Mobilities

(decreasingOrder)

Ca++ = 3.0

Na+ = 2.4

Mg++ = 1.3

K+ = 1.25

SiO2 = 0.20

Fe2O3 = 0.04

Al2O

3= 0.02



P.T. INCO

The following factors influence the speed as well as the character of

chemical weathering:

1. Stability of Minerals (crystal structure, melting points)

2. Acidity / basicity (pH) conditions

3. Reduction / oxidation (redox potential) of the environment

4. Rate of removal of dissolved constituents

5. Climate (temperature, rainfall, fluctuation of water table)

6. Topography

7. Rock conditions (Fracturing, Jointing, Grain size)

Factors Influencing Chemical Weathering



P.T. INCO Various topographic profiles

Steep Hill

Depression / basin

Gentle Hill

Plateau

River Terrace

Dissected Plateau



P.T. INCO Role of Water Table

• The position of water table depends on:

Amount of rainfall

Ground porosity/permeability Topographic characteristics

• Impact of High water tableMuch of rock fil led with water

Less oxygen being supplied

• Fluctuating water table

Varying zones of oxidation and reduction

Frequent flushing of system to remove dissolved material



P.T. INCO

WEATHERING OF

ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS AND LATERITES

Weathering of Ultramafic rocks

Behaviour of MgO, SiO2, Fe, Al, Ni

Laterite Profile: Limonite zone

Laterite Profile: Intermediate zone

Laterite Profile: Saprolite zone

Rates of Laterisation



P.T. INCO WEATHERING OF OLIVINE

Forsterite: 2MgO.SiO2 (MgO = 57.3%)

• Highly unstable in weathering

environment

• Individual SiO4 tetrahedra are

weakly bonded by cations

•Magnesia is highly soluble in ground water

• Release of magnesia breaks down the Olivine structure

• Breakdown of Olivines releases various cations:

MgO, FeO, NiO, MnO

Sorowako Olivine:

• FeO = 9.0%

• Al2O3 = 0.4%

• NiO = 0.37%

• MnO = 0.12%

• Cr 2O3 = 0.02%

• TiO2 = 0.02%

Replacements



P.T. INCO WEATHERING OF PYROXENE

Enstatite: MgO.SiO2 (MgO = 40.2%)

• Relatively unstable in weathering

environment (but < Olivine)

• Individual SiO4 tetrahedra arebonded by shared Oxygen

• Magnesia is highly soluble in

ground water • Release of magnesia breaks down the Pyroxene

• Breakdown of Pyroxenes releases various cations:

MgO, FeO, CaO.Al2O3.NiO, MnO

Sorowako Pyroxene:

Opx Cpx

• FeO = 6.0 2.5

• Al2O3 = 3.2 3.5

• CaO = 1.9 21.7

• NiO = 0.08 0.05

• MnO = 0.13 0.08

• Cr 2O3 = 0.58 0.86

• TiO2 = 0.05 0.09

Replacements



P.T. INCO Weathering of Serpentine

• Serpentine: 3MgO.2SiO2.2H2O

• Magnesia is leached out first, leaving behind a silica

enriched phase or montmorillonite and chlorite

• Ni and Fe can replace the magnesium being leached.

This results in the formation of:

Iron containing serpentine

Nickeliferous serpentine

• Through a similar process, nickel is also fixed in Talc,Chlorite, and Smectite

• Eventually, montmorillonite and chlorite also break

down, releasing remaining magnesia and sil ica



P.T. INCO Behaviour of Magnesia (MgO)

• Magnesia is present in Olivine, Pyroxene and Serpentine

•Magnesia is released by the breakdown of olivines

• Magnesia has very high solubility in ground water

• It is the first major component to be leached out in large

quantities

• Some magnesia may stay in the laterite profile to form

clay minerals and nickel hydrosil icates

• Final product of lateritic weathering (Goethite/limonite)

does not contain any magnesia



P.T. INCO Behaviour of Silica (SiO2)

• Silica is present in Olivine, Pyroxene and Serpentine

• Silica is released by the breakdown of ferro-magnesian

silicates

• In humid environments, laterite is constantly flushed and

lit tle silica gets f ixed as smectite/nontronite clays

• In wet-dry environments, flushing of laterite profile is

poor and si lica gets fixed as smectite/nontronite clays in

the Intermediate Zone• In the alkaline environment (where MgO is being

released), silica can precipitate from solution as

amorphous silica (sil ica veins, boxwork, coatings)



P.T. INCO Behaviour of Iron (Fe)

• Iron is present as: Ferrous Ferric

In olivine (MgO.FeO.SiO2) : Fe++

In pyroxene (MgO.FeO.2SiO2) : Fe++

In chromite (FeO.Cr 2O

3) : Fe++

In ilmenite (FeO.TiO2) : Fe++

In magnetite (FeO.Fe2O3) : Fe++ Fe+++

• Breakdown of mafic minerals releases Ferrous ions

• Ferrous ion is quite soluble and mobile

• Ferrous ions get quickly oxidised to ferric ions, as:

Hematite / Maghemite, Goethite, Limonite

• Iron in primary magnetite and ilmenite oxidise to form:

Hematite / Maghemite, Goethite, Limonite

• Iron in the Ferric (Fe+++) state is very insoluble



P.T. INCO Behaviour of Alumina

• Alumina is present in:

Pyroxenes (as impurity and as solid solution)

Common Spinel (MgO.Al2O3)

• On the breakdown of pyroxenes, alumina is temporarily

fixed in the chlorites (Clinochlore: 5MgO.Al2O3.3SiO2.4H2O)

• After the breakdown of chlorites, alumina is fixed in

gibbsite (Al2O3.3H2O)

• Alumina is very insoluble in ground water in the pH

range commonly found (4 – 9)

• Al+++

and Fe+++

are truly residual elements in laterites



P.T. INCO Behaviour of Mn and Co

• Minor amounts of Mn and Co are present in the mafic

minerals (Olivine and Pyroxene)

• On the breakdown of mafic minerals, Mn and Co are

released

•Mn and Co are slightly soluble in acidic waters at the top

of the laterite profile

• Mn and Co are very insoluble in alkaline waters

• Mn and Co concentrate at the bottom of the LimoniteZone

• Much of Cobalt is t ied to the manganese wad



P.T. INCO Behaviour of Ni

• Minor Ni is present in Olivines (0.3%), Orthopyroxenes

(0.1%), and Clinopyroxenes (< 0.05%)

• Ni can replace the Mg being leached out of serpentines,Talcs and Chlorite to form nickeliferous silicates

• Ni is soluble in acidic water but insoluble in alkaline

water

• Ni travels down the profi le and gets precipitated as Ni

hydrosilicates in the Saprolite Zone (alkaline environment,

where solubili ty of Mg is higher than that of Ni)

• Some Ni gets permanently t ied to the goethite structure(as solid solution, from 0.5 to 1.5% Ni)

• Ni is also tied to Asbolite / Manganese wad at the base of

the Limonite Zone



P.T. INCO LATERITES

• The term “ Laterite” is derived from the Latin word “ later ” whichmeans 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

sesquioxides 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)



P.T. INCO LATERITE PROFILE

“Red” Hematite

“Yellow” Limonite

Saprolite zone

Bedrock zone

• Acidic environment• Collapsed profile•“Soluble” ions leached (Ca, Mg, Si, Na, K)• “Insoluble” ions concentrated (Cr, Al, Fe)

• Mn, Co show supergene enrichment

• Alkaline environment• Un-collapsed profile• Leaching / residual concentration in progress• Boulder formation• Ni shows supergene enrichment

• Alkaline environment• Joints / fractures exposed to U/G water • Chemical attack is just beginning

• Channelways provide removal of dissolveds

Laterite Zones Processes at work



P.T. INCO LATERITE PROFILE – Limonite zone

• The uppermost zone is rich in hematite and goethite

• The limonite may be remobilised in near-surface acid conditions and

crystallised to hard ferricrete/iron cap

• Extremely insoluble minerals may persist in this zone (spinel,

magnetite, primary talc)

• The base of the limonite zone is enriched in manganese, cobalt and

nickel (manganese wad). This wad occurs as coatings on joints and

fracture planes

• Limonite zone represents laterite that has collapsed

• The dry bulk density in the limonite zone is higher than in the

Transition zone

• Due to collapse, the original texture and structure of rock is

completely obli terated



P.T. INCO

• Contains soft Smectite clays – usually nontronite (Fe2O3.2SiO2.2H2O)

– and hard crystalline quartz

• Leaching is advanced but collapse is not complete

(resulting in low bulk density)

• Some original texture/structure is still preserved

• The formation of dist inct intermediate zone requires wet-dry cl imate

• If the Intermediate Zone is developed, the occurrence of manganese

wad is more prominent in the upper part of the Intermediate Zone

rather than in the lower part of the Limonite Zone

LATERITE PROFILE – Intermediate zone



P.T. INCO

• The Zone consists of: bedrock fragments, saprolised rims of

boulders, precipitated quartz, and garnierite

• Chemical weathering is proceeding along joints & cracks

• Saprolisation along joints leads to the formation of “ boulders”

• The boulders can have a significant saprolised crust

• Original rock texture and structure are well preserved

• Most parent rock minerals are preserved

• In Unserpentinised rock, saprolisation is limited to boulder surfaces

since the rock is very hard (boulders are free of replacement nickel)

• In serpentinised rock, saprolisation proceeds through much of the

rock mass since it is soft (boulders may contain significant

quantities of replacement nickel)

LATERITE PROFILE – Saprolite zone



P.T. INCO SOROWAKO LATERITE PROFILE

0

5

10

15

20

DEPTH (m)

WEST BLOCK

UNSERPENTINISED

EAST BLOCK

SERPENTINISED

Limonite

Overburden

Iron cap

Limonite ore

Saprolite Ore

Bedrock



P.T. INCO NICKEL LATERITE PROFILES

0

20

40

DEPTH (m)

SILICATE

(eg New Caledonia)

CLAY

(eg Murrin Murr in)

OXIDE

(eg Moa Bay)

Cuirasse

Red

limonite

Yellow

limonite

Earthy

ore

Ore with

boulders

Rocky

ore

Bedrock Bedrock

Saprolite

(Serpentine,

chlorite,

smectite)

Smectite

zone

Ferruginous

zone

Colluvium

Bedrock

Saprolite

Limonite

Limoniteoverburden

Iron cap



P.T. INCO Major Elements in Laterite Profile

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

DEPTH IN METRES

P E R C E

N T A G E

S

T r a n s i t i o n z o n e

FeSiO2

AlO2O3

MgO

LIMONITE SAPROLITE



P.T. INCO Minor Elements in Laterite Profile

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

DEPTH IN METRES

P E R C E

N T A G E

S

r a

n s

o n z o n e

Cr 2O3

MnO

Co

Ni

Supergene Ni

enrichment

LIMONITE SAPROLITE

CO



P.T. INCO RATES OF LATERISATION

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

1 1 0 1 0 0

1 , 0 0 0

1 0 , 0

0 0

1 0 0 , 0

0 0

1 , 0 0 0 , 0

0 0

1 0 , 0

0 0 , 0

0 0

TIME IN YEARS

m

m

o f L a t e r i t e

1 metre

10 metres

100 metres

Based on mineralsolubilities in the

Laboratory

Based on water

compositions of

well-drainedUltramafics

P T INCO



P.T. INCO USE OF Ni IN THE INDUSTRY

• Over 60% of the world’s nickel is used for making

stainless steel

• With the addition of nickel in steel, it is made resistant tocorrosion

• Nickel is also used in making superalloys that can

withstand high temperatures and pressures (also high

electrical conductivity)

• Nickel is also used for plating, making coins, Ni-Cd and

Ni-metalhydride batteries, and as a chemical catalyst

• Cobalt has properties similar to nickel but is moreexpensive

• Primary nickel supply comes from newly mined ores

• Secondary nickel supply comes from recycling scrap

P T INCO



P.T. INCO

NICKEL LATERITE EXPLORATION

P T INCO



P.T. INCO

Nickel Laterite Exploration Stages

• Outlining of ultramafic area

• Outlining and analysis of structural lineaments• Outlining of favourable laterite landforms

• Reconnaissance sampling of favourable laterite landforms to define

Inferred resource

• Follow up dril ling for indicated resource• Determination of bulk densities and upgrading characteristic.

• Follow up dril ling of measured resource

• Bulk sampling and metallurgical testing

P T INCO



P.T. INCO

Outlining of Ultramafic Area

• Reference/Published Geological map

• Aerial photograph, landsat/radar imageries• Ground mapping

P T INCO



P.T. INCO

Outlining and Analysis of Structural Lineaments

• Highly tectonised rocks are more prone to penetration by

acidic surface waters and expose much larger area forchemical weathering.

• Major structures may also cause serpentinisation of the

ultramafic rocks.

• Aerial photograph, landsat and radar imageries

P.T. INCO



P.T. INCO

Outlining Favourable Laterite Landforms

• Good laterite is generally associated with slopes 5-15%range, moderate slopes allow better drainage while stil lretaining the soil. Steep slopes allow rapid erosion oflaterite while depressions do not allow good flushingsystem to dissolve light elements.

• Landform is an extensive peneplaination of terrain.

• Landforms can be easily interpreted from aerialphotograph, landsat and radar imageries

P.T. INCO



9th Relinquishment CoW Boundary

PeteaPetea Area AreaMahalonaMahalona

EBWB

SorowakoSorowako

SorowakoSorowako PlantPlant

P.T. INCO



Reconnaissance Sampling of Laterite Landforms

• To check the presence of reasonable thickness and

nickel grades

• Power auger, RC dril ling, Lightweight Winkies, or even

hand auger can be used.

• 400m – 200m drill space

P.T. INCO



Follow up Drilling for Indicated Resource

• To define Indicated Resources to ensure geological

continuity.

• Core Drill ing with 100m dril l space (may need closer

space if ore continuity is not uniform or in complex

geology/mixed rock type).

P.T. INCO



Determination of bulk densities and upgrading

characteristic

• To determine tonnage factors, moisture content and

upgradeabil ity/screen recoveries to convert in situ volumes to

equivalent dry metric tonnes of potential plant feed.

• The best method: test pit or large diameter (20 cm) core drill ing.

P.T. INCO



Follow Up Drilling for Measured Resource

• To further increase geological confident (ore continuity,

ore type and chemistry variability

• Core Drill ing with 100m dril l space (may need closer

space if ore continuity is not uniform or in complex

geology/mixed rock type).

P.T. INCO Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves



Mineral Resources and Mineral ReservesCLASSIFICATION OF

MINERAL RESOURCES ANDMINERAL RESERVES(Based on CIMM philosophy)

PROBABLE PROVEN

MINERAL MINERALRESERVE RESERVE

INFERRED INDICATED MEASURED

MINERAL MINERAL MINERAL

RESOURCE RESOURCE RESOURCE

MINING ASPECTS

(Mineability,

Dilution)

MINING ASPECTS

(Mineability,

Dilution)

C

O N S I D E R A T I O N

O F E C O

N O M I C , M E T A L L U R G I C A

L ,

E N V I R O N M E N T A L , L E G A L A N D

O T H E R

A S P E C T

S

INCREASING GEOLOGICAL ASSURANCE AND CERTAINTY

(Continuity of grades, thickness, chemistry, etc.)

Low Medium High

FIGURE - 1Revised: May 6, 2001

P.T. INCO Bulk Sampling and Metallurgical Testing



Bulk Sampling and Metallurgical Testing

• To obtain:

Detailed geology (ore-waste contacts) at small scale

Mining methodGrade/Quality control sampling method

Reconcil iation between pre-mining and post mining

estimates

Detailed ore chemistry and mineralogy studies abd

processing implications

Reduction and Smelting test

• Size : 5,000 – 60,000 wmt.

P.T. INCO World Nickel Laterite Deposits



Cuba DominicanRepublic

Brazil

Columbia

Guatemala

Albania

GreecePhilippines

IndonesiaPNG

NewCaledoni Australia

Venezuela

BurmaIndia

Madagascar

Producing CountriesProducing Countries

Non Producing CountriesNon Producing Countries

Ivory Coast

Zimbabwe

EthiopiaBurundi

P.T. INCO LATERITE vs. SULPHIDE DEPOSITS



CUBA

INDONESIA

AUSTRALIA

LATERITES SULPHIDES

NEW CALEDONIA

PHILIPPINES

P.T. INCOWorld Nickel Laterite Resources

(Distribution by Contained Nickel)



( y )

Mt Resource % Ni Mt Ni %

Caribbean 2785 1.26 35.0 25

New Caledonia 1890 1.52 28.7 20

Indonesia 1401 1.63 22.8 16

Phil ippines 1162 1.30 15.1 11 Australia 1144 0.95 10.9 8

Africa 800 1.33 10.7 8

C. & S. America 661 1.60 10.6 8

Other 539 1.08 5.8 4

Total 10382 1.34 140 100

P.T. INCOWorld Nickel Laterite Resources





Caribbean

25%

New

Caledonia

20%

Indonesia

16%

Philippines11%

Australia

8%

Africa

8%

C. & S.

America

8%

Other

4%

P.T. INCO WORLD’S LAND-BASED Ni RESOURCES



100%2020.9620,976TOTAL

69%1401.3210,382LATERITES

31%620.5810,594SULPHIDES

Relative

%

Contained

Nickel

%

Ni

Mt

Ore

Excluding sea-based manganese nodules

P.T. INCO WORLD LATERITES – Grade/Tonnage Plot



0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Millions of tonnes of Resource/Reserve

% N

i G

r a d e

N.Cal.

Indep.PalawanMindanao

SOAPTAT

Inco Pomalaa

Larco

Apo

Soroako

Bahodopi

B.Alto Exmibal

Falcondo

SLN Hi grade

Koniambo

Goro Ni

Pinares

des Mayari

Sipilou

Murr in M. 6-20

Cawse 6-20

Marlboro

C 1-5

B 1-5

M 1-5

Raventhorpe

6-20

Bulong

6-20

Ramu R. Ambatovy

Prony

GagInv.

C.Matoso

Funguesso

Inco Coastal

P.Gorda

Mt.Marg.

Tocantins

Soroako

1 B lb Ni

2 B lb Ni5 B lb Ni

10 B lb Ni

15 B lb Ni

Moa

Hinatuan

Rio Tuba

Benguet

Codemin

Nicaro

R 1-5

Taganito

PumaOnca

Cupey Inco Pomalaa

Loma

LIM Producing (Yr 2000) LIM Likely to produce (by 2010) LIM Non-producing

SAP Producing (Yr 2000) SAP Likely to produce (by 2010) SAP Non-producing

P.T. INCO WORLD Ni PRODUCTION & RESOURCES



PRIMARY Ni PRODUCTION WORLD Ni RESOURCES

SULPHIDE

SULPHIDELATERITE

LATERITE

60%

40% 30%

70%

P.T. INCO MAJOR LATERITE PRODUCERS



100%467,310TOTAL

3.717,200Loma de Niquel (Anglo)Venezuela

5.827,227Falcando (Falconbridge)Dominican Rep.6.430,000 Anglo; othersBrazil

10.046,900Cerro Matoso (BHP-B)Columbia

13.261,500Eramet/SLNNew Caledonia13.563,000PAMCO; Hyuga; Nippon YakinJapan

14.467,383QNI (BHP-B); Minara Australia

16.075,000Cuba NickelCuba

16.979,100PT Inco; ANTAMIndonesia

% of

world

Mt NiProducersCountry

For 2003

P.T. INCOINDONESIA

Principal Nickel Laterite Deposits



500km

WEDA BAY

SULAWESI

KALIMANTAN

SERAWAK

PNG

IRIAN JAYA

HALMAHERA

SUMATRA

TIMOR

GEBE

OBISOROAKOBAHODOPI

POMALAA

GAG

WAIGEO

SENTANI

JAVA

P.T. INCO



LATERITE MINING PROCESS

PT INCO - SOROWAKO

P.T. INCO PTI Concession



Malili

Original Concession

6,600,000 Ha

Current Concession

218,529 Ha (3.3%)

P.T. INCO

PT Inco Concessions Surround Sorowako



PT Inco Concessions Surround Sorowako

Processing Plant

EBWB

Petea

Lampesue N&S

Tanamalia

Lingkona

Lasubonti

Matano

Malili

Lingke

Lengkobale

Mahalona

MatanoLake

Towuti Lake

P.T. INCO Mine Equipment ~ 2006

E i t T t l U itT



511 m3 bucketFRONT SHOVEL

51100 tons payload

711 m3 bucketLOADER

16.5 m3 bucket

13.5 m3 bucket

985 tons payload

4550 HP

DOZER

TRUCK

BACKHOE

Equipment

114 m3 bucket

350 tons payload

Total UnitType

4200 HP

34350 HP

5125 tons payload

111 m3 bucket

P.T. INCOPT INCO Simplified Mining Flow Diagram



LandCLEARING

STRIPPING

of Overburdencapping

OVERBURDENDISPOSAL/

DUMPS

MINING(ORE DIGGING)

SAPROLITE

SCREENING

(OREUPGRADING)

(4 activescreening

plants)

FINAL MINE

PRODUCTto

WET ORESTOCKPILES

Capacity : 1milliontons

Mine Revegetation

EXPLORATIONDRILLING

Ore Bodymodeling

&

Mine Planning

P.T. INCO

Mining Process



P.T. INCO GEOLOGIST AND MINE ENGINEER KEY ROLES



GEOLOGIST

• Exploration (Mapping, Drilling,Logging, Geological Evaluation,

Geophysics)

• Orebody Modelling (GeologyDatabase, Geostatist ic, MineralResource/Reserve Estimation)

• Mine Ore Quality Control (MineGeologist)

• Mine Ore Reconciliation (Actualmined vs Model)

• Ore Blending

MINE ENGINEER

• Mine Planning (Life of Mine,LTP/STP, Equipment Calculation,

Design of mine pit, roads, dumps,drainage, quarry, etc)

• Blasting

• Mine Dispatch System (ModularMining System).

• Mining Operation

• Production Statistic and CostControl

P.T. INCO Rehabilitation workat disposal area



Before rehabilitation Land preparation

Vegetation development

P.T. INCO Mine Environment Control



P.T. INCO PROCESSING OF Ni LATERITES



• Pyrometallurgical processing

(Ore is melted)

Production of Ferro-nickel

Production of Ni-S matte

• Hydrometallurgical processing

(Ore is leached with acid solutions)

• Combined pyro and hydro process (Caron)

(Ore is reduced at high temperature, then leached)

P.T. INCO NICKEL SULPHIDE vs. LATERITE PROCESSING



Long to pay for high capitalCan be short to mediumProject size/life

High per lb of NiModest per lb of NiCapital cost

Modest due to compromise

for prevalent chemistry

High due to consistency of ore

chemistry and mineralogy

Ni recovery

High due to low Ni content.

High energy input required.

Modest due to high Ni content.

Sulphur provides latent heat.

Processing cost

Relatively high (per lb Ni)due to low upgradeabili ty

Relatively cheap (per lb Ni) dueto high upgradeabili ty

Ore/Conshipping

Low upgradeability. Final

grade generally <2.0% Ni.

Highly upgradeable to sulphide

concentrate

Upgrading

More varied in chemistryand mineralogy; stratified

More uniform in chemistry andmineralogy

Deposituniformity

Soft rock mining cheap.

Only open cast mining

Hard rock mining more

expensive. Many sulphides U/G

Mining

Nickel LateriteNickel Sulphide

P.T. INCO Processing• Drying



To reduce moisture content to +/- 20%. To reject high olivine/low Nickel rocks

To blend the ore

• Reduction

To further reduce moisture content to ~0%. To remove water crystal (LOI/Loss on Ignit ion)

To further blend the ore

Convert/reduce oxides to metallic form

Finalize blending recipe for smelter feed (addition of Carbon/coal and

Sulfur)

• Smelting

To remove remaining LOI

To complete reduction process

To melt sulfide and metallic phases to form a single liquid matte phase. To melt the remaining oxide phases to form a single liquid slag phase.

To separate the matte and slag phase based on density differences.

To discard the slag containing only small amount of nickel.

To tap matte containing most of nickel for further processing in theconverters.

P.T. INCO

DRYING AND REDUCTION PROCESS



P.T. INCO

MELTING PROCESS



P.T. INCO



Thank You

9-Early Magmatic & Nickel Laterite Deposit

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Transcript of 9-Early Magmatic & Nickel Laterite Deposit