PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI LOMBOK 2010

The 39th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition

CHARACTERISTICS AND THE OCCURRENCE OF “GARNIERITE” FROM THE SOROAKO

NICKELIFEROUS LATERITE DEPOSITS, SULAWESI, INDONESIA

Sufriadin1, Shigeki Ueno2, Akira Imai2, Arifuddin Idrus3,

Subagyo Pramumijoyo3, I Wayan Warmada3,
1,3*
Mining Engineering Study Program, Hasanuddin Unversity, Makasar 90245 Indonesia
2
Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
3
Department of Geological Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55283 Indonesia
sufriadin_as@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

An investigation of Ni-Mg hydrous silicate ores called “garnierite” from the Soroako nickeliferous laterite
deposits has been conducted in order to decipher their occurrences and mineralogy, and bulk chemical
composition. The methods used in this study include field survey and laboratory work. Samples were
collected in both west and east blocks. The west block is mostly occupied by unserpentinised peridotite,
whereas the east block represented by Petea Mine is covered by moderately to highly serpentinized
protolith. The field observation indicates that the garnierite in the west block occurs in three modes; i)
slickensided fault coating, ii) filled fractures or veins, and iii) matrices in peridotitic conglomerate. While
in Petea area, the garnierite is only found as vein filling fractures. Results of XRD analysis exhibit the
garnierite in Soroako consisting of kerolite-pimellite, talc-willemseite, Ni-serpentine, and sepiolite-
falcondoite series. Nickel content of the garnierite samples studied by means of XRF methods range from
2.2 to 16.2 wt%. The lower content of Ni in this garnierite is caused by the presence of quartz and trace
amount of iron oxides.

Keywords : Garnierite, nickeliferous laterite, kerolite, Ni-serpentine

INTRODUCTION mine geologists. It is characterised by green in

Nickel laterite deposits contribute to around 70 %
of land-based global nickel resources. Indonesia is
one of the four largest nickel laterite ore
producing countries where the deposits are mostly
distributed in the eastern regions such as
Sulawesi, Halmahera, Gag, and Waigeo Islands.
Nickeliferous laterite deposits of Sulawesi are
found in Soroako, Pomalaa, Bahudopi, Asera, and
Buton. These are formed by extensively chemical
weathering process developed over ultramafic
rocks. Nickel laterite ore may be classified into
three types according to their host mineralogy
(Brand et al., 1998; Elias, 2002; Freyssinet et al.,
2005), they are silicate, clay, and oxide ores.
Nickel laterite ores that is now being produced at
Soroako including nickel silicates where
garnierite is the main Ni-bearing materials.
Garnierite is general terms for Ni-Mg rich
hydrosilicate minerals that commonly used by
colour, non swelling, and high Ni content
(Proenza, et al., 2008). However, garnierite is
actually not a mineral approved by Commission
of New Mineral and Mineral Names (CNMMN)
but it occurs as intimate mixtures of two or more
of the following minerals: serpentine, talc,
sepiolite, smectite, and chlorite. Brindley and
Hang (1973) showed that many garnierites are
mixtures of 1 : 1 layer silicate (serpentine-like)
and 2 : 1 layer silicate (talc-like) components with
basal spacing of 7 Å and 10 Å respectively.
Brindley and Maksimovic (1974) proposed the
nomenclature of Ni hydrous silicate mineral series
(garnierite).
In this paper, the mode of occurrence, mineralogy,
and chemical composition of garnierite samples
from the Soroako nickeliferous laterite deposits
are reported. The specific objective is to explore
the difference between garnierite properties
developed on serpentinised peridotite versus
unserperpentinised protolith.
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI LOMBOK 2010
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GENERAL GEOLOGY
Geology of the Soroako area is regionally
included in Malili and Bungku Quadrangles.
These sheets were mapped at a scale of 1 :
250.000 by Simandjuntak et al., (1991; 1993).
Rock assemblages occupied Malili, Soroako, and
Bungku areas can be classified into four groups:
(i) metamorphic complex, (ii) tectonite rocks, (iii)
Mezosoic sedimentary sequence, (iii) Ultramafic
complex, and (iv) Tertiary sediments.
Ultramafic rocks within the studied area include
the Eastern Sulawesi Ophiolite (ESO). The ESO is
one of the largest ophiolite massifs in the world
along with Oman and Papua New Guinea (Monier
et al, 1995). It covers an area of approximately
10,000 km2 with a thickness about 10,000 m. The
distribution of mafic and ultramafic rocks in East
and Southeast Arms Sulawesi are found as
isolated blocks along the western coast of Bone
Gulf and east coast of Tolo Gulf and extend to
Batui Mountain to the north (Surono & Sukarna,
2001).
In Soroako and Petea area that have been explored
in more detail by PT. INCO, the rocks are
dominantly harzburgite and lherzolite with lesser
dunite and rare pyroxenite (Ahmad, 2005). In
general, these rocks can be described as green to
dark green peridotites. Peridotite are commonly
coarse grained with pyroxene (bronzite/enstatite)
usually showing up as large bronze-colour
crystals. With the increasing degree of
serpentinisation, the colour of the rock generally
gets darker.
The ultramafic rocks at Soroako show a
predominance of primary olivine with smaller
amounts (up to 40%) of orthopyroxene and lesser
amounts (up to 25%) of clinopyroxene. The ratio
of orthopyroxene to clinopyroxene (Opx : Cpx) is
generally greater than two. The original opaque
minerals include chromite (about 2%) while
secondary magnetite in well serpentinised rocks
can reach up to 5% and is localised in thin veinlets
or along the edges of relic olivine crystals, or
distributed as disseminations. The magnetic
susceptibility of the rock and the degree of
serpentinisation are correlated.
The ultramafic rocks also show signs of extensive
deformation on the basis of crystal fabric within
the vicinity of faults particularly major thrust
faults in the peripheral areas that separate the
ultramafics from the surrounding sediments. The
ultramafic complex at Soroako is bounded in the
west by a west-dipping thrust fault that separates
it from Mesozoic sediments consisting mostly of
limestone with interbedded red shales. Extensive
brecciation and mylonitisation of the ultramafics
is evident along this fault contact. General
geological map of Soroako area is shown in
Figure 1.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
Twelve (12) garnierite samples were collected
during the field work. Samples were gathered
from both of west block (8 samples) and Petea
area (4 samples) of the Soroako mine site. Mostly
collected samples occur in veins, some fracture
coatings, and minor of conglomeratic peridotite
matrixes. Samples were studied using optical
microscopy, X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD),
and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.
Microscopic observation of some garnierite
samples using transmitted and reflected light were
performed by means of Nikon Eclipse LV 100
POL microscope.
Mineralogical analysis using XRD technique was
carried out by a Rigaku RINT 2000 X-ray
diffractometer with incident Cu-Kα radiation at 40
kv and 20 mA. The patterns of diffraction were
obtained by scanning powders from 2 – 65o on
samples ground in agate mortar with scanning
step at 0.02o and counting time 4o/minute.
Whole rock chemical analyses of powder samples
prepared in vibrating mill on pressed pellets were
performed with a Rigaku RIX 3100 X-ray
fluorescence spectrometer with X-ray tube
operated at 50 kV and 50 mA. All these analyses
were conducted at Department of Earth Resources
Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Field and Microscopic Features
On the basis of the field appearance of the
garnierite, including colour, texture and
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI LOMBOK 2010
The 39th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
crosscutting relationship, those materials may be
distinguished into three types: (i) thin layer
garnierite within joints or slickensided fault
coating, (ii) fractures filling materials or veins,
and (iii) matrices on peridotitic conglomerate.
Garnierite veins occur both in the west block and
Petea area, they are more extensive in
unserpentinized ultramafic protolith (Fig. 2A)
with medium-dark green in colour. While in
serpentinized peridotite, garnierite veins are
typically pale green, fibrous, and they are only
found locally (Fig. 2B).
Thin layer of medium green garnierite materials
are well developed on fractured of bedrock and in
place it is present as slickensided fault coating.
They can be traced along the fault plane (Fig. 2C).
Striations are also commonly found at Ni laterite
mines. In the case of fault planes formed at
saprolite zones close to berocks, they are usually
coated with fibrous veins that normally grow on
the rocks during tension crack opening (crack seal
mechanism).
Garnierite is also found as cement/matrix in fault
gouges or as garnierite matrices in peridotitic
conglomerate (Fig. 2D). It occurred when Ni
saturation reached previously formed the
brecciation zone. The occurrence of garnierite
clasts indicate tectonic remobilisation of the veins.
Quartz veins sometimes present as fracture filling
and they crosscut or parallel to the colloform
banding of garnierite veins or fibrous material.
Fine-grained crystals of magnetite are also visible
(Fig. 3). The fractures are more intense in West
Block compared to Petea area.
Mineralogy and Bulk Rock Chemistry
Result of XRD analysis reveal some variation of
garnierite mineralogy. They are commonly
intermixed between 10Å (2:1) talc-like phases and
7Å (1:1) serpentine-like phases. There were two
talc-like minerals identified within the studied
samples. They are kerolite-pimellite and talc-
wilemseite series with the strongest basal spacing
of 10.44Å and 9.30Å respectively. Ni-serpentines
are indicated by the reflection at 7.10Å and 7.33Å
(Fig. 4), probably chrysotile and/or lizardite end-
members. However, it is difficult to discriminate
serpentine species due to the similar reflection and
generally the XRD patterns are overlapping. Most
analyzed samples showed the presence of quartz
with reflection of 3.34Å. Iron oxides, possibly
magnetite is present in some samples in small
amount.
The strongest reflections of 12.30Å and 12.44Å
respectively that were showed by two samples
from Petea area (serpentinized peridotite
bedrock), clearly exhibit Ni-sepiolite (Fig. 5).
Whole rock chemical data display a wide
variation of the Ni content, ranging between 2.2 to
16.2 wt%. A half samples studied have anomalous
SiO2 (>60 wt%) suggesting the presence of quartz
or amorphous silica.
The Al2O3 and FeO contents tend to be elevated in
samples from West Block compared to the Petea
area as shown in Table 2. This condition was
favorable for precipitation of talc-like phases. In
weathering profile, a substitution of Fe2+ for Mg2+
in talc structure is possible and followed by very
fast oxidation (Noack et al., 1986).
In contrast, sepiolite formation from solution was
more suitable in the presence of amorphous silica
(Birsoy, 2002). The occurrence of quartz in both
mine area indicates more acidic condition due to
the incorporation of surface water to the lower
profiles (Golightly, 1981).
CONCLUSIONS
Based on discussion mentioned above, following
may be withdrawn:
1. Garnierite in Soroako occurs as thin layer or
slickensided fault coating, as fracture filling
materials or veins, and as matrices in
peridotitic conglomerate.
2. Talc-like phases (kerolite-pimelite and talc-
wilemsite series), serpentine (lizardite and
chrysotile), and sepiolite-falcondoite series
are the nickel bearing minerals identified in
garnierite samples.
3. The presence of quartz or amorphous silica in
the most of garnierite samples have great
contribution to the high silica-magnesia ratio
of mined ores in particularly of the West
Block.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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The first author gratefully acknowledge to Prof.
Koichiro Watanabe at the Department of Earth
Resources Engineering, Kyushu University for
providing unlimited access in using laboratory
facilities. Thanks are also addressed to Dr. Ade
Kadarusman, Technical Support Manager of Mine
Department, PT. INCO Tbk, for valuable
suggestions during the field works. This study has
been supported financially by JASSO Short Terms
Research Scholarship.
REFERENCES
Ahmad, W., 2005, Mine Geology at PT. INCO.,
Unpublished Training Manual., 118p.
Babineau, J.,2004, Petrography of 32 rock
samples collected in Petea, Mahalona, and
Konde areas, Soroako, Sulawesi, Unpub.
Internal Memo.
Birsoy, R., 2002, Formation of sepiolite-
palygorskite and related minerals from
solution., Clays and Clay Minerals, Vol.50,
No.6, pp. 36 – 745.
Brand, N.W., Butt, C.R.M., and Elias, M., 1998,
Nickel laterite : classification and features.,
AGSO Journal of Australian Gology &
Geophysics 17 (4), pp. 81- 88.
Brindley, G.W., and Hang, Pham, Thi., 1973, The
nature of garnierites – I: Structures, chemical
compositions and color characteristics.,
Clays and Clay Minerals, vol. 21, pp. 27 –
40.
Brindley, G.W., and Maksimovic, Z., 1974, The
Nature and nomenclature of hydrous nickel-
containing silicates., Clay Minerals, vol. 10,
pp. 271 – 277.
Elias, M., 2002, Nickel laterite deposits—a
geological overview, resources and
exploitation: Hobart, University of
Tasmania, Centre for Ore Deposit Research
Special Publication 4, p. 205–220.
Golightly, J.P., 1981, Nickeliferous laterite
deposits., Economic Geology, 75th
Anniversary Volume, pp. 459 – 462.
Freyssinet, PH., Butt, C.R.M, Morris, R.C, and
Piantone, P., 2005, Ore-forming processes
related to lateritic weathering, Economic
Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, pp. 681
– 722.
Monnier, C., Girardieau, J., Maury, R.C., and
Cotton, J., 1995, Back arc basin origin for
the East Sulawesi Ophiolite, Eatern
Indonesia, Geology 23, 851 – 854.
Noack, Y, Dacarreau, A, and Manceau, A., 1986,
Spectroscopic and oxygen isotopic evidence
for low and high temperature origin of talc.,
Bul. Mineral. 109, pp. 253 – 263.
Proenza, J.A., Lewis, F.J., Gali, S., Tauler, E.,
Labrador, M., Melgarejo, J.C., Longo, F.,
and Bloise, G., 2008, Garnierite
mineralization from Falcondo Ni-laterite
deposits (Dominican Republic), Macla 9,
Simandjuntak, T.O, Rusmana, E, Surono, and
Supandjono, J.B., 1991, Peta Geologi
Lembar Malili, Sulawesi., Pusat Penelitian
dan Pengembangan Geologi, Bandung.
Simandjuntak, T.O., Rusmana, E., Supandjono,
J.B., Koswara, A., 1993., Peta Geologi
Lembar Bungku Sulawesi., Pusat Penelitian
dan Pengembangan Geologi, Bandung.
Surono and Sukarna, D., 2001., The Eastern
Sulawesi Ophiolite Belt, Eastern Indonesia.
A Review of its origin with special reference
to the Kendari area., (in Ofiolit di Sulawesi,
Halmahera, dan Kalimantan, Editor : Udi
Hartono ), Publikasi Khusus No.28,
Puslitbang Geologi, Bandung.
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Sample ID
Minerals Sorowako West Block Petea Area
KO-1 SU-2 WW-3 WW-4 KO-4 IN-1 KR-1 AN-4 PG-01 PG-03 PG-04 PB-05
kerolite - pemellite *** *** ***
talc – willemseite * ** ***
Ni - serpentine ** *** *** *** ** *** ** ** * * ** ***
Ni - smectite * *
sepiolite - falcondoite *** ***
quartz * ** ** ** * ** ** ** ** **
pyroxenes *** *
iron oxides * * * *
Note : *** =Major; ** =Minor; * = Trace.

Table 1. Mineralogical composition of Soroako garnierite samples studied by XRD method.

Sample ID
Composition Unserpentinized Peridotite (West Block) Serpentinized Protolith
(wt %)
KO-1 SU-2 WW-3 WW-4 KO-4 IN-1 KR-1 AN-4 PG-01 PG-03 PG-04 PB-05
SiO2 45,24 63,42 51,29 65,65 50,37 66,82 47,27 50,19 62,24 61,66 74,04 46,87

TiO2 0,01 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,01 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00

Al2O3 28,45 0,00 0,20 0,42 0,49 0,11 0,27 11,60 0,05 0,09 0,12 0,24
FeO 1,81 1,45 3,79 2,99 9,54 1,87 4,03 0,43 0,35 0,36 0,30 6,28
MnO 0,03 2,00 0,07 0,05 0,14 0,02 0,06 0,00 0,01 0,00 0,08 0,11
MgO 13,47 15,47 22,69 19,93 14,07 18,90 29,44 16,38 26,10 25,09 9,56 32,18
CaO 4,35 0,02 0,09 0,01 0,44 0,02 0,00 2,77 0,00 0,01 0,00 0,03
Na2O 0,13 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00

K 2O 0,02 0,02 0,03 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,00 0,01 0,00 0,00 0,01 0,01

P2O5 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,00 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01
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H2O 3,96 10,71 13,60 8,62 7,97 5,75 10,65 9,41 6,54 9,16 6,85 10,67
Cr 0,04 0,03 0,11 0,08 0,30 0,05 0,05 0,00 0,00 0,01 0,00 0,17
Ni 2,47 6,87 8,11 2,23 16,65 6,43 8,24 9,18 4,70 3,61 9,03 3,43
Co (ppm) 24 26 78 59 157 28 87 20 0 5 44 104
Total *(%) 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0
*Note : Normalized to 100 %

Table 2. Whole rock chemistry of garnierite samples from Soroako nickeliferous laterite deposits.
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI LOMBOK 2010
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Figure 1. Simplified geological map of Soroako Area (Modified after Simandjuntak, et al, 1991).
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI LOMBOK 2010
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A 1m B 15 cm

C 25 cm D 20 cm

Figure 2. Field appearance of garnierite ores in Soroako. A : Garnierite occurs as slickensided

fault coating on peridotite at Konde Hill. B: Garnierite vein with cm size developed
at Sumasang Hill. C: Medium to dark garnierite as matrixes on conglomeratic
peridotite at Wawono Hill. D: Ni-rich sepiolite vein with pale green colour on
highly weathered serpentinized peridotite at Petea Mine.
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI LOMBOK 2010
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C 1 mm D 0.5 mm

0.5 mm 1 mm
A B

Figure 3. Microphotographs of garnierite samples from Soroako. A : Garnierite bands are crosscut by
quartz vein, B: Vuggy quartz vein set in garnierite (Ni-serpentine). C: Ni-serpentine
(Nepouite?) set in serpentine mesh, D: Alternating band of kerolite-pimelite and Ni-
serpentine, fine-grained magnetite crystals (black) distribute along the band.
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI LOMBOK 2010
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3.35Å (Qz)
9.93Å (Wlm)

7.35Å (Liz)

4.58Å (Liz)

3.66Å (Liz)
10.44Å (Ker)

2.09Å (Mgt)
B

Figure 4. Selected powder diffraction patterns of garnierite samples from Soroako West Block
(A=sample from Wawono Hill, B=sample from Konde Hill and C=sample from Koro
Hill). Note : Wlm=willemseite, Ker = kerolite, Liz = Ni-serpentine (lizardite?), Qz =
quartz, and Mgt=magnetite.
12. 30Å (Ni-Sep)

12.44Å (Ni-Sep)

3.34Å (Qtz)
7.40Å (Ni-serp)

Figure 5. Diffractogram of 2 garnierite samples from Petea Area. Note : Sep = sepiolite, Serp=
serpentine, Qtz= quartz.