What are nickel sulphide deposits?

What are nickel sulphide deposits?

Magmatic nickel sulfide deposits form when magmas derived from the Earth’s mantle ascend into the crust, in some cases reaching the Earth’s surface, and crystallise into iron-magnesium-nickel-rich mafic and ultramafic rocks containing concentrations of Ni-rich sulfide minerals.

What is a sulphide deposit?

Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits, also known as VMS ore deposits, are a type of metal sulfide ore deposit, mainly copper-zinc which are associated with and created by volcanic-associated hydrothermal events in submarine environments.

How are PGE deposits formed?

Magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu ± platinum-group element (PGE) sulfide deposits form when mantle- derived mafic and ultramafic magmas become saturated in sulfide and segregate immiscible sulfide liquid, commonly following interaction with crustal rocks.

What is disseminated sulphide?

When a deposit consists almost entirely of sulphides, it is termed “massive sulphide”. When it consists of clots or patches of sulphides in the country rocks, it is termed “disseminated”. The proportion of sulphide minerals, and therefore the metal grades, are generally higher in the former.

What type of deposit is nickel?

The bulk of the nickel mined comes from two types of ore deposits: laterites where the principal ore minerals are nickeliferous limonite [(Fe,Ni)O(OH)] and garnierite (a hydrous nickel silicate), or. magmatic sulfide deposits where the principal ore mineral is pentlandite [(Ni,Fe)9S8].

What is nickel sulphide used for?

Nickel sulphide and laterite ore is used to make nickel metal, predominantly for the production of stainless steel as well as nickel sulphate, a key ingredient in the batteries that drive electric vehicles. More than two thirds of global nickel production is used to produce stainless steel.

What are disseminated deposits?

Deposit in which usually fine-grained ore minerals are scattered throughout the rock. Large, disseminated deposits form important sources of ore, e.g. porphyry copper deposits. From: disseminated deposit in A Dictionary of Earth Sciences » Subjects: Science and technology — Earth Sciences and Geography.

Where are nickel deposits?

Nickel reserves and resources Economic concentrations of nickel occur in sulphide and in laterite-type ore. Rich deposits are found in Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Russia and Canada, which together account for more than 50% of the global nickel resources.

Where can I find nickel deposits?

Large Nickel Deposit Nickel Ore is a raw material that is found exclusively in the Lost River and some parts of the Inactive Lava Zone. It can be found as a Large Resource Deposit and as loose chunks of ore on the seabed. It is used to create several vehicle upgrades.