Ruqayyah Snyder
Nickel is a chemical element and transition metal that is present in ores occurring as both sulfides and laterites. Nickel is rarely found in its pure form; it is usually mixed with other metals to make alloys. Nickel is a key ingredient in stainless steel and is also used in cast-iron alloys, coins, and batteries. Nickel is mined in many places around the world, including Australia, which was the fifth-largest producer of nickel in the world in 2021. Nickel is predominantly mined in Western Australia, which has the largest nickel resources in the country, with 96% of the total. There are two types of commercial nickel deposits: nickeliferous laterite, associated with mafic or ultramafic igneous rocks, and nickel sulfide ores formed by replacement or magmatic injection.
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What You'll Learn
Nickel deposits in Australia are largely found in Western Australia
The first nickel mines in Western Australia were developed in the late 1960s in Kambalda, Laverton, and the Kimberley region. The discovery of a major nickel sulfide deposit at Mount Windara near Laverton in 1969 sparked an exploration boom, with Western Mining Corporation (WMC) acquiring Poseidon and establishing a significant mining operation. Nickel is primarily derived from two types of ore deposits: magmatic sulfide deposits, where the principal ore mineral is pentlandite, and laterites, formed in humid tropical conditions and active plate collision zones. Magmatic nickel sulfide deposits in Western Australia are associated with ultramafic lava flows of Archean age and the interaction of the earth's magma with crustal rocks.
Western Australia's nickel resources are found within komatiitic volcanic-hosted nickel-copper-platinum group element (Ni-Cu-PGE) sulfide deposits, lateritic nickel deposits, and, to a lesser extent, tholeiitic intrusion-hosted Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide and hydrothermal deposits. The state's nickel production is dominated by magmatic nickel sulfides from komatiite deposits, with nickel sulfide mines contributing most of the production. The major nickel sulfide deposit in Western Australia is located at Kambalda, with other deposits around Mount Keith, Perseverance, and Yakabindie. The Leinster Nickel Mine, operated by BHP under the Nickel West Operation, is another significant source of nickel in the state.
The rise in nickel mining in Australia can be attributed to the discovery of laterite ores in the late 1990s, with the country recording the world's largest economic demonstrated resources of nickel. Nickel reserves of 40 and 120 years in nickel sulfide ores and all other nickel ores, respectively, have been recorded. The Murrin Murrin and Ravensthorpe projects in Western Australia are the only producing lateritic nickel operations in the country. Nickel mining in Western Australia has experienced fluctuations due to changes in the world nickel price, leading to mine closures and reopenings.
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Nickel is found in magmatic nickel-copper sulfide deposits
Nickel is a chemical element and a transition metal that is rarely found in its pure form. It is a compatible element, meaning it is easily incorporated into common rock-forming minerals. Nickel is found in magmatic nickel-copper sulfide deposits, which form when magmas derived from the Earth's mantle ascend into the crust and crystallise into iron-magnesium-nickel-rich mafic and ultramafic rocks containing concentrations of Ni-rich sulfide minerals. The sulfide deposits form when the mantle-derived mafic and/or ultramafic magmas become sulfide-saturated and segregate immiscible sulfide liquid, commonly following interaction with continental crustal rocks.
Magmatic nickel-copper sulfide deposits are the main source of nickel in China, and they are also found in Australia, Canada, Russia, and southern Africa. In Australia, most of the nickel sulfide resources occur in Western Australia within ultramafic lava flows of Archean age. The first major nickel sulfide deposit in Australia was discovered in 1966, heralding the initiation of Australia's nickel mining industry. Western Australia has the largest nickel resources in the country, with 96% of total Australian resources, contained within nickel sulfide and lateritic nickel deposits. Queensland is the second-largest producer, with 4.5% of the country's nickel coming from lateritic nickel, followed by Tasmania with 0.2%.
The tenor, or concentration of metal (typically nickel) in magmatic sulfides, can vary significantly and sets the upper limit on the overall grade of a deposit. Nickel comes in two distinct types: intrusion-hosted (basalt sill-dyke-hosted) and komatiite. Intrusion-hosted deposits are found within mafic-ultramafic intrusions and have formed throughout geologic history. Komatiites were so hot they melted channels into the underlying rocks, helping them absorb sulfur and forming deep pools for molten sulfides to settle into. Komatiite deposits often contain more than 10 times as much nickel as copper and tend to be smaller than intrusion-hosted deposits.
The major Ni-Cu sulfide mineralogy typically consists of an intergrowth of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and chalcopyrite. Cobalt, platinum-group elements, and gold are often extracted as byproducts from magmatic Ni-Cu ores.
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Nickel is also found in nickeliferous laterite deposits
Nickeliferous laterite deposits are a type of soil rich in nickel. They are formed by the weathering of ultramafic rocks, which are found in humid tropical conditions and active plate collision zones. This process causes nickel resources to form inside nickel laterites, which are large tonnage, low-grade deposits located close to the surface.
Nickeliferous laterite deposits are the world's largest source of nickel, accounting for 70% of the world's nickel reserves. They are typically found in Indonesia, New Caledonia, Brazil, and the Philippines, with Australia holding 20% of the world's nickel laterites. Western Australia has the largest nickel resources in the country, with 96% of total Australian resources, followed by Queensland with 4.5%. Nickel laterite deposits tend to occur within the 23.5th parallels, north and south of the equator, in warm, tropical environments where chemical and mechanical weathering thrive.
Nickel is found in two types of deposits: nickel laterites and magmatic sulfide deposits. Nickel laterites are formed by the intensive tropical weathering of olivine-rich ultramafic rocks such as dunite, peridotite, and komatiite. There are two kinds of lateritic nickel ore: limonite types and silicate types. Limonite-type laterites are highly enriched in iron due to the strong leaching of magnesium and silica, containing 1-2% nickel. Silicate-type (or saprolite-type) nickel ore is formed beneath the limonite zone and contains 1.5-2.5% nickel.
The Cawse nickeliferous laterite deposits in Western Australia have been studied using helicopter electromagnetic (HEM) and magnetic survey data to define the structural controls that influence supergene mineralisation and delineate areas favourable for further exploration. The Murrin Murrin project in Western Australia is a large nickel-cobalt laterite project jointly owned by Minara Resources and Glencore International, with a total reserve of 145 million tonnes grading at 1.07% nickel and 0.085% cobalt as of 2005.
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Nickel is a chemical element and transition metal
Nickel is present in ores occurring as both sulfides and laterites. Magmatic nickel sulfide deposits form when magmas derived from the Earth's mantle ascend into the crust and crystallise into iron-magnesium-nickel-rich mafic and ultramafic rocks. Most of Australia's nickel sulfide resources occur in Western Australia within ultramafic lava flows of Archean age. Nickel sulfide deposits are also found in Russia, Canada, and southern Africa.
The first major nickel sulfide deposit in Australia was discovered in 1966, heralding the initiation of Australia's nickel mining industry. Western Australia has the largest nickel resources in the country, with 96% of total Australian resources, followed by Queensland with 4.5% and Tasmania with 0.2%. Australia recorded the world's largest economic demonstrated resources of nickel, with reserves of 40 and 120 years in nickel sulphide ores and all other nickel ores.
Nickel laterite deposits are found in Indonesia, New Caledonia, Brazil, and the Philippines due to the formation in humid tropical conditions and active plate collision zones. Laterite-hosted nickel deposits form by the weathering of ultramafic rocks and are a near-surface phenomenon related to tropical climates. Australia holds one-third of the world's known reserves of nickel-producing laterites and sulfide deposits.
Nickel mining in Australia uses both surface and underground mining techniques to extract laterite and sulphide ores of different nickel grades. Nickel mining has experienced fluctuations due to changes in global nickel prices, with mines closing and reopening over time. Nickel is recyclable, and its reserves have the least remaining life years compared to other metals.
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Nickel is used in steel, cast iron alloys, coins, and batteries
Nickel is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. It is a hard and ductile transition metal. Nickel is used in a variety of applications, including steel, cast iron alloys, coins, and batteries.
Nickel in Steel
Nickel is an essential component of stainless steel, which is used in various industrial and consumer products. It enhances the strength, toughness, and elastic limit of steel. Nickel is added to iron to create stainless steel, an extremely useful and durable product.
Nickel in Cast Iron Alloys
Nickel-based alloys are primarily composed of nickel, combined with other elements such as chromium, molybdenum, iron, and copper. These alloys are known for their exceptional corrosion and heat resistance, making them suitable for extreme conditions. They are used in applications such as gas turbine components, heat-treating equipment, marine engineering, and chemical processing.
Nickel in Coins
Nickel has been used in coinage in various countries, including the United States and Canada. It was favoured for its corrosion resistance and low cost. However, in recent years, nickel has been replaced by cheaper stainless steel alloys in coinage, except in the United States and Canada.
Nickel in Batteries
Nickel is a critical mineral in the transition to clean energy, particularly in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. It is a key component in lithium-ion battery cathodes, where it can make up a significant proportion of the cathode material. The demand for nickel in EV batteries is expected to increase significantly as the world moves towards electric vehicles and clean energy storage options.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the largest nickel mines in Australia include the Ravensthorpe Mine, the Nova Bollinger Project, the Spotted Quoll Mine, and the Savannah Mine.
Nickel is found in Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and New South Wales. Western Australia has the largest nickel resources, with 96% of total Australian resources.
Nickel is found in mafic and ultramafic rocks, which can include igneous rocks, basalts, and komatiitic volcanic rocks. Nickel is also found in laterites, which are formed in tropical climates and plate collision zones.
