Best Practice in Nickel Laterite Exploration and Resource Evaluation [PDF]

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Best Practice in Nickel Laterite Exploration and Resource Evaluation Asmariyadi 13 June 2019



Curriculum Vitae Name : Asmariyadi Education : Geological Engineering, Hasanuddin University Company : PT HC & PT AKGC Professional Association : IAGI 4064, MGEI B-0473, MAusiMM 374745 Employment History PERIOD



COMPANY



POSITION



2017 - Now



PT AKA Geosains Consulting



Senior Geologist



2018 - Now



PT Harvest Construction



Senior Geologist



2016 - 2018



PT Bumi Semarak Adidaya (subsidiary PT Harvest Construction)



Senior Geologist



2012 - 2016



PT Bahana Selaras Alam



Database Geologist



2011 - 2012



PT Bahana Selaras Alam



Exploration Geologist



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OUTLINE • • • •



Nickel Laterite Overview & Formation Process Exploration and Resource Delineation Geological Modelling and Resource Estimation Reporting



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NICKEL LATERITE OVERVIEW & FORMATION PROCESS



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Nickel Deposit Types Nickel deposit occurs in two origins: • Sulphide nickel deposits (mineralization/magmatism product) • Nickel as nickel sulphide → pentlandite, millerite • Nickel ores processed through milling and smelting



• Laterite nickel deposits (soil or weathering product) • Oxide Ni deposits: Ni as hydroxide in the ferruginous zone • Clay silicate deposits: Ni as clay silicate • Hydrous silicate deposits: Ni as hydrous-silicate in saprolite • Nickel ores processed through pyro-metallurgy (smelting) or hydro-metallurgy (leaching)



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Nickel Deposit Distribution



Since 2010 Laterite exceeds Sulphide production



Laterites mostly located under tropical conditions



Source: J. Lennon, Macquarie July 2019



Source: C. Butt (2007), M. Elias (2013)



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Nine countries account for 75% of global nickel reserves Major Laterite deposits are found in Indonesia, Australia, Philippines, New Caledonia, Brazil and Cuba Major Sulphide deposits are found in Russia, Canada, Australia and South Africa



Source: The Life of Ni, Nickel Institute (2016) hcms.id | akgc.co.id



Source: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020 (USGS, 2020) 6



INDONESIA - Principal Nickel Laterite Deposits CLICK TO EDIT MASTER TITLE STYLE



SANGAJI & TANJUNG BULI WEDA BAY



WAIGEO GEBE GAG



BANGGAI



OBI SOROAKO



BAHODOPI



SERAM



CYCLOOPS



KONAWE UTARA



SEBUKU



KONAWE POMALAA KABAENA



Source : Mineral, Coal, and Geothermal 2008, Directorate General of Mineral, Coal, and Geothermal, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources



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What Are Nickel Laterites? • Nickel laterites are residual soils that have developed over ultramafic rocks through processes of chemical weathering and supergene enrichment. Under tropical climatic conditions. • Nickel laterites is Rich of Iron with some nickel enrichment • Critical conditions for the formation of nickel laterites ▪ Appropriate accumulation of soil (topography) ▪ Appropriate rock type ▪ Appropriate weathering conditions ▪ Appropriate conditions for supergene enrichment • Laterites make poor soils for agriculture • Laterites are source of metals: ▪ Ni, Co, Cr, Fe (from laterites derived from ultramafic rocks) ▪ Al (from laterites derived from aluminous rocks) hcms.id | akgc.co.id



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Distribution of Ophiolites in Indonesia



Peta sebaran ofiolit di Asia Tenggara (Kadarusman, et al., 2001).



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Distribution of Ultramafic Rock in Indonesia CLICK TO EDIT MASTER TITLE STYLE



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Lithologic Factors



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Rocks high in Fe yield iron laterites (mafic / ultramafic) Rocks high in Al yield aluminous bauxites (syenites / trachytes) Rocks with some nickel content yield nickeliferous laterites Unserpentinised peridotites are more susceptible to weathering than serpentinised peridotites • Parent rocks are dunites, harzburgites, lherzolites • Most Ni laterites primarily derive their Ni concentrations from forsteritic olivine or derived serpentine containing 0.15-.30% Ni



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Mineralogical Change of Laterite CLICK TO EDIT MASTER TITLE STYLE



Bauxite



Nickel Laterite



Taylor, 2001 : Regolith geology and geomorphology 12



Various topographic profiles



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• Ideal landforms for laterite development & preservation ▪ Rolling to gently sloping morphology ▪ Slopes of