Search Results (16)

Lateritic nickel deposits frequently contain elevated concentrations of chromium. The recovery of this fraction of chromium resources can enhance the comprehensive utilization of resources while simultaneously reducing the energy consumption and environmental pollution associated with smelting. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility and technical challenges associated with the recovery of chromium from lateritic nickel deposits from a mineralogical perspective. To this end, a process mineralogical study was conducted on a lateritic nickel deposit in Indonesia. It was discovered that chromium often occurs as a chromium mineral, chromite, and exhibits significant physical differences from common minerals in lateritic nickel deposits, such as limonite and serpentine, making it suitable for physical beneficiation. Chromite constitutes a mere 3.72% of the ore sample, yet it is enriched with a 63.40% chromium content. Consequently, on the basis of determining the granularity and liberation characteristics of chromite and the occurrence state of chromium, we predicted that the recovery rate could reach 39.47%, constituting a feasible value for chromium recovery. This will enable a more scientific approach to the physical beneficiation process. Full article

The extraction of nickel and cobalt from a limonitic laterite sample, derived from a mine area in the Greek island of Euboea, was studied via an acid agitation leach process with nitric acid as the leaching agent, to determine the optimal conditions at which the highest possible extractions of nickel and cobalt were obtained in the pregnant solution. Two series of experiments were carried out. In the first series, the extractability of metals was studied by varying the leaching temperature at values of 60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C. For the second series of tests, the metals’ extraction at different values of initial nitric acid concentrations of 1M, 2M and 4M was examined. Based on the results, the effect of temperature is characterized as particularly significant, as with its increase, the final recoveries of nickel and cobalt were particularly high. The variation in acid concentration had a significant effect but not like that of temperature. For extraction conditions of an S/L ratio of 20%, a temperature of 100 °C and a 2M HNO₃ concentration, the highest recoveries of nickel and cobalt were obtained, namely 94.4% and 83.6%, respectively. Iron in all tests did not exceed dissolutions of more than 7.2% in the pregnant solution. Full article

Ferronickel products obtained from the traditional process used to treat limonite nickel laterite usually assay very low-grade Ni, only 3–5% Ni due to the high Fe/Ni ratio of limonite nickel laterite. This paper describes an investigation conducted to upgrade limonite nickel laterites for the preparation of ferronickel by using selective reduction smelting technology. By means of thermodynamic calculations and smelting experiments, the smelting separation mechanism and the behavior of P and S removal in the smelting process, as well as the influence of smelting factors, have been systematically identified. The best production index of ferronickel is obtained under optimized conditions as follows: smelting the pre-reduced lumps at 1525 °C for 45 min with a basicity of 0.60, MgO/SiO₂ ratio of 0.30, and nickel and iron metallization rate of 94.30% and 10.93%, respectively. The resulting ferronickel features a nickel and iron grade of 12.55% and 84.61% and a nickel and iron recovery of 85.65% and 10.87%, respectively. In addition, the content of S and P contained in ferronickel is only 0.11% and 0.0035%, respectively. The ferronickel obtained from the selective reduction smelting process is a fine material for the subsequent stainless steel smelting due to its high Ni grade and low content of impurities. Full article

Eastern Indonesia, including the island of Halmahera, is a region with a high mineral potential, particularly Ni-Co, Au-Cu, and Ag ores, which are a globally important and critical source of raw materials (CRMs). The research was conducted within the framework of scientific cooperation between the Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw (Poland), and PT Halmahera Resources Percasa Ltd. (Jakarta, Indonesia) Between the years of 2009 and 2011, 42 boreholes were drilled using an impact system (up to 15 m below surface) and 3 test pits (up to 8 m below surface). The presence of a laterite deposit containing Ni-Co mineralization was identified on the license area. The resources estimated in accordance with JORC Code, with a cut-off grade Ni ≥ 0.5%, equaling 185,510 t Ni and 17,747 t Co, with the stock of raw material amounting to 14.8 million t and with an average content of 1.00% Ni and 0.13% Co. The ore in the deposit has mixed character. To date, studies have shown the dominance of oxide ore, but saprolite composed of magnesium silicates was also identified in significant amount. The Ni mineralization in oxide ore (limonite) is bound to goethite and manganese minerals, while in the case of silicate (saprolite) ore, it occurs locally in the form of veins as well as zonally in the weathered serpentinites. Cobalt mineralization is almost entirely related to the Mn minerals that occur in the lower oxide zone. It has been found that both serpentinites and harzburgites (and possibly locally lherzolite) are the parent rocks for laterite deposit. Full article

Scandium (Sc) is used in several modern industrial applications. Recently, significant Sc concentrations (~100 ppm) were reported in some nickel-cobalt lateritic ores, where Sc may be valuably co-produced. However, Sc is typically not included in routine analyses of Ni-Co ores. This contribution examines the relevance of using routinely analysed elements as geochemical proxies for estimating Sc concentration and distribution. Three Ni-Co lateritic deposits from New Caledonia were investigated. In each deposit, Sc is well correlated with Al₂O₃. The slopes of deposit-scale Sc-Al₂O₃ regression lines are remarkably controlled by the composition of enstatite from the parent peridotite. In all deposits, maximum Sc enrichment occurs in the yellow limonite, above the highest Ni and Co enrichment zones. Sc- and Al-bearing crystalline goethite is predominant in the oxide-rich zones, though Sc shows a higher affinity for amorphous iron oxides than Al. We propose that, in already assayed Ni-Co lateritic ores, the concentration and distribution of Sc can be estimated from that of Al. Deposit-scale Sc-Al₂O₃ correlations may be determined after analysing a limited number of spatially and chemically representative samples. Therefore, mining operators may get a first-order evaluation of the Sc potential resource in Ni-Co lateritic deposits at low additional costs. Full article

In this study, we present mineralogical and geochemical characterization of samples systematically collected from a nickel laterite profile at the Sta. Cruz nickel laterite deposit, Zambales, Philippines. Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (WDSXRF), mass-balance element mobility calculations, transmitted and reflected light microscopy, and previously reported results from coupled X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement analyses reveal that the laterite profile investigated is composed of two main horizons—the limonite and saprolite zones—separated by a thin transitional zone. Based primarily on the mineral assemblage and major element chemistry, the main zones are further subdivided into subzones: upper limonite, lower limonite, transitional zone, upper saprolite, and lower saprolite. Garnierite veins were observed cutting the upper and lower saprolite subzones. Investigation of the structure of goethite within the limonite zone via Rietveld refinement shows that the crystallinity of goethite decreases with increasing Ni content and increasing crystallite size. This suggests that upwards through the limonite zone, as goethite ages, its crystallinity increases, which possibly results in the removal of Ni from its crystal structure and eventual remobilization to the lower laterite zones. Full article

Limonitic laterite contains low iron and nickel grades and much high smelting minerals and loss on ignition (LOI), identified as refractory iron ore for sintering. Thus, sinter pot tests of limonitic laterite via pressurized densification sintering and its intensification mechanism were conducted, and the industrial application prospect was explored. The results indicate that the sintering performance of the limonitic laterite of the new process is significantly improved with the tumble index and productivity increased by 19.2% and 18.6%, respectively, and solid fuel rate lowered by 10.3%. The external pressure field promotes the synchronization of heat front velocity and combustion front velocity for better sintering heat and mass transfer conditions, which also greatly improves the mineral compositions and microstructure of the product sinter. The microstructure is converted from large thin-wall pores into small thin-wall or large thick-wall pores with the sinter porosity decreased by 42.4%. Much close interlocking texture between hercynite and silico-ferrite of calcium and alumina (SFCA) is formed with hercynite grains aggregation and growth, and SFCA amount substantially increased. The better sintering performance will bring about a remarkable economic benefit of 282.78 million RMB/a if the industrial application is implemented. The pressurized densification sintering process is considered as one of the effective technologies for improving limonitic laterite sintering. Full article

Extraction of limonite ore using dissolved SO₂–air is an alternative hydrometallurgical method for nickel recovery. This process is carried out at atmospheric pressure and is shown to have good selectivity of nickel over iron, but with a low recovery yield. The literature refers to the application of alkali roasting as pretreatment in laterite ore leaching to increase nickel recovery. Thus, this study aims to apply the combination method of alkali roasting and leaching to extract nickel from limonite ore (1.33% Ni, 46.61% Fe) from the Southeast Sulawesi region. Three alkali compounds were included in the study (NaOH, Na₂CO₃ and Na₂SO₄). The batch-leaching process was carried out at pH 1 and 3 and temperatures of 55 and 80 $°$C for 180 min. The leach liquors were sampled at 15, 60, 90 and 120 min, and concentrations of the extracted metals were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). A mineralogy characterization of the raw ore and its residue after leaching was undertaken by using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), while the thermal decomposition behavior of the ore was characterized by Thermogravimetry Analyzer (TGA)/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The addition of Na₂CO₃, Na₂SO₄ and NaOH in the ore pretreatment increases nickel recovery from 14.80% without alkali roasting to 23.99%, 28.15% and 39.22%, respectively. The optimum extraction condition for nickel recovery is at pH 1 and a temperature of 80 $°$C. However, the highest Ni/Fe selectivity of 24,947 is obtained at pH 3 and a temperature of 80 $°$C, preceded by roasting in the absence of alkali. Compared to other hydrometallurgical processes, the process studied in this work exhibits lower recovery, but provides an alternative to extract nickel from low-grade limonite ore. Full article

The kinetics study has an essential role in the scale-up process because it illustrates the real phenomena of a process. This study aims to develop a mathematical model that can explain the mechanism of the leaching process of laterite ore using a low concentration of the citric acid solution and evaluate that model using the experimental data. As a raw material, this process used powder-shaped limonite laterite ores with a size of 125–150 µm. The leaching process is carried out using 0.1 M citric acid solution, F:S ratio of 1:20, and a leaching time of 2 h. The temperature parameter was varied at 303, 333, and 358 K. The experimental results showed that the higher the operating temperature, the higher the extracted nickel. The results of this experiment were used to evaluate the shrinking core kinetics model and the lumped model. The simulation results for both models show that the lumped model can provide better simulation results. Quantitatively, the percentage of errors from the shrinking core model is around 3.5 times greater than the percentage of errors from using the lumped model. This result shows that in this leaching process, the process mechanism that occurs involves the reactant diffusion step and the chemical reactions step; those steps run simultaneously. Full article

The Intex laterite deposit in Mindoro, Philippines is derived from the weathering of the ultramafic rocks under a tropical climate. This study investigates the several types of serpentines and the effect of the degree of chemical weathering of ultramafic rocks and laterites on the enrichment of Ni in the deposit. The five types of serpentines are differentiated based on their textural features and Raman spectral data. Type I, type II, type III, and type IV serpentines contain a low amount of NiO (average 0.15 wt%), and their formation is linked to the previous exhumation of the ultramafic body. Conversely, type V serpentines show the highest NiO contents (average 1.42 wt%) and have the composition of serpentine-like garnierites, indicating a supergene origin. In the limonite horizon, goethite is the main ore mineral and shows high NiO contents of up to 1.68 wt%, whereas the Mn-oxyhydroxides (i.e., asbolane and lithiophorite–asbolane intermediate) display substantial amounts of CoO (up to 11.3 wt%) and NiO (up to 15.6 wt%). The Ultramafic Index of Alteration (UMIA) and Index of Lateritization (IOL) are used to characterize the different stages of weathering of rocks and laterites. The calculated index values correspond to a less advanced stage of weathering of the Intex laterites compared with the Berong laterites. The Berong deposit is a Ni-Co laterite deposit in the Philippines, which is formed from the weathering of the serpentinized peridotite. The less extreme degree of weathering of the Intex laterites indicates less advanced leaching, and thereby the re-distribution of Ni, Si, and Mg from the limonite towards the saprolite horizon may have resulted in the poor precipitation of talc-like (kerolite-pimelite) and sepiolite-like (sepiolite-falcondoite) phases in the studied saprolite horizon. Nickel in the Intex deposit has undergone supergene enrichment similar to other humid tropical laterite deposits. Full article

An alternative process of pre-roasting, phosphoric acid leaching followed by solvent extraction of a limonitic laterite ore was described in this work, with emphasis on the solvent extraction of Ni and Co from the phosphoric acid leaching solution by P204 and P507. First, the pH value of the leaching solution was adjusted using ammonia to reduce the content of Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ by precipitation, then the content of Al³⁺, Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ were further decreased by extraction using P204. At last, Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ were separated by three-stage extraction using P507. After extraction, the extraction ratio of Co²⁺ was 96.61%, while that of Ni²⁺ was 12.32%, and the selective extraction of Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ could be realized. Full article

Iron control in the atmospheric acid leaching (AL) of nickel laterite was evaluated in this study. The aim was to decrease acid consumption and iron dissolution by iron precipitation during nickel leaching. The combined acid leaching and iron precipitation process involves direct acid leaching of the limonite type of laterite followed by a simultaneous iron precipitation and nickel leaching step. Iron precipitation as jarosite is carried out by using nickel containing silicate laterite for neutralization. Acid is generated in the jarosite precipitation reaction, and it dissolves nickel and other metals like magnesium from the silicate laterite. Leaching tests were carried out using three laterite samples from the Agios Ioannis, Evia Island, and Kastoria mines in Greece. Relatively low acid consumption was achieved during the combined precipitation and acid leaching tests. The acid consumption was approximately 0.4 kg acid per kg laterite, whereas the acid consumption in direct acid leaching of the same laterite samples was approximately 0.6–0.8 kg acid per kg laterite. Iron dissolution was only 1.5–3% during the combined precipitation and acid leaching tests, whereas in direct acid leaching it was 15–30% with the Agios Ioannis and Evia Island samples and 80% with the Kastoria sample. Full article

In this study, column leaching experiments were carried out to investigate the extraction of Ni and Co from low-grade limonitic laterites from Agios Ioannis mines in central Greece. Tests were carried out in laboratory Plexiglas columns using H₂SO₄ as leaching solution. Parameters determining the efficiency of the process, i.e., acid concentration (0.5 M or 1.5 M) and addition of 20 or 30 g/L of sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) in the leaching solution, were also studied. Upflow transport of the leaching solution with the use of peristaltic pumps was carried out, while the pregnant leach solution (PLS) was recycled several times over the entire test duration. The concentration of Ni, Co, Fe, Ca, Al, Mg, and Mn in the PLS was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The ore and the leaching residues were characterized by different techniques, i.e., X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC/TG). The experimental results showed that (i) Ni and Co extractions increased with the increase of H₂SO₄ concentration—60.2% Ni and 59.0% Co extractions were obtained after 33 days of leaching with 1.5 M H₂SO₄; (ii) addition of 20 g/L Na₂SO₃ in the leaching solution resulted in higher extraction percentages for both metals (73.5% for Ni and 84.1% for Co, respectively), whereas further increase of Na₂SO₃ concentration to 30 g/L only marginally affected Ni and Co extractions; and (iii) when leaching was carried out with 1.5 M H₂SO₄ and 20 g/L Na₂SO₃, its selectivity was improved, as deduced from the ratios Ni/Mg, Ni/Ca and Ni/Al in the PLS; on the other hand, the ratio Ni/Fe dropped as a result of the higher Fe extraction compared with that of Ni. Full article

There is considerable interest in the development of new processes to extract the nickel from the oxidic nickeliferous laterite deposits, as the global nickel sulphide resources are rapidly becoming more difficult to access. In comparison to sulphide ores, where the nickel-containing mineral can be readily concentrated by flotation, nickel laterites are not amenable to significant upgrading, due to their complex mineralogy. In this paper, firstly, a brief overview of the conventional techniques used to process the nickeliferous limonitic laterites is given, as well as a review of current research in the area. Secondly, a thermodynamic model is developed to simulate the roasting process and to aid in the selection of process parameters to maximize the nickel recovery and grade and also to minimize the magnetite content of the concentrate. Thirdly, a two-stage process involving reduction roasting and thermal growth in either a tube furnace or a rotary kiln furnace, followed by magnetic separation, was investigated. Thermogravimetric, differential thermal and mineral liberation analyses techniques were utilized to further understand the process. Finally, the nickel grades and recovery results were compared to those available in the literature. Full article

This contribution reports on the observation of enigmatic fibrous platinum-group minerals (PGM) found within a chromitite body included in limonite (“floating chromitite”) from Ni-laterites in the Dominican Republic. Fibrous PGM have a Ru-Os-Ir-Fe dominated composition and are characterized by fibrous textures explained by grain-forming fibers which are significantly longer (1–5 µm) than they are wide (~100 nm). Back-scattered electron (BSE) images suggest that these nanofibers are platinum-group elements (PGE)-bearing and form <5 µm thick layers of bundles which are oriented orthogonal to grains’ surfaces. Trace amounts of Si are most likely associated with PGE-bearing nanofibers. One characteristic fibrous PGM was studied in detail: XRD analyses point to ruthenian hexaferrum. However, the unpolished fibrous PGM shows numerous complex textures on its surface which are suggestive for neoformation processes: (i) features suggesting growth of PGE-bearing nanofibers; (ii) occurrence of PGM nanoparticles within film material (biofilm?) associated with PGE-bearing nanofibers; (iii) a Si-rich and crater-like texture hosting PGM nanoparticles and an Ir-rich accumulation of irregular shape; (iv) complex PGM nanoparticles with ragged morphologies, resembling sponge spicules and (v) oval forms (<1 µm in diameter) with included PGM nanoparticles, similar to those observed in experiments with PGE-reducing bacteria. Fibrous PGM found in the limonite may have formed due to supergene (bio-)weathering of fibrous Mg-silicates which were incorporated into desulphurized laurite during stages of serpentinization. Full article