The most common ore minerals for nickel are pentlandite (sulfide orebodies) and garnierite and nickeliferous limonite (nickel laterite orebodies). Other nickel bearing minerals include: Nickeline, Millerite Pentlandite Sulfide of iron and nickel | (Fe,Ni)9S8 | Color and Luster | Light bronze-yellow; metallic, streak light bronze-brown | Hardness | 3.5-4 | Cleavage | None, parting in one direction | Specific Gravity | 4.6-5.1 | Crystals | Isometric; usually massive and in granular aggregates | Best Field Marks | Massive occurrence with pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite; lack of magnetism | Similar Species | Pyrrhotite is magnetic, pentlandite is not | Environment | Pentlandite is usually intimately associated with pyrrhotite and less commonly with chalcopyrite in gabbro of plutonic rocks. |
Garnierite Sulfide of iron and nickel | ((Ni,Mg)Si)3.nH2O) | Color and Luster | Pale green to white, earthy luster | Hardness | 1-3 | Cleavage | | Specific Gravity | 2.3-2.8 | Crystals | occurs in earthy masses | Environment | These are secondary minerals contained in nickel-bearing laterite, highly leached soil that forms in regions of tropical climate such as in New Caledonia and Cuba. The tropical climate with high temperatures and abundant rainfall cause weathering of nickel-bearing mafic and ultramafic rocks (iron and magnesium rich) subsequently concentrating the mineral. |
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