Nickel-Cobalt Laterites—A Deposit Model Chapter H of Mineral Deposit Models for Resource Assessment Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5070-H U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Nickel laterite profile from Parque Nacional la Mensura, Cuba. Photograph by Paul Golightly. Nickel-Cobalt Laterites—A Deposit Model By Erin Marsh, Eric Anderson, and Floyd Gray Chapter H of Mineral Deposit Models for Resource Assessment Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5070-H U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2013 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. 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H of Mineral deposit models for resource assessment: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5070–H, 38 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5070/h/. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Deposit Type and Associated Commodities ..............................................................................................2 Example Deposits..................................................................................................................................2 Nickel Mountain, Riddle, Oregon ..............................................................................................3 Falcondo District, Dominican Republic, Hispaniola ...............................................................3 Murrin Murrin, Western Australia ............................................................................................3 Moa Bay, Cuba .............................................................................................................................8 Historical Evolution of Descriptive and Genetic Knowledge and Concepts ........................................9 Regional Environment ...................................................................................................................................9 Geotectonic Environment ....................................................................................................................9 Temporal (Secular) Relations ..............................................................................................................9 Duration of Mineralizing Processes ..................................................................................................9 Relations to Structures ......................................................................................................................11 Relations to Igneous Rocks ..............................................................................................................11 Relations to Sedimentary Rocks ......................................................................................................12 Relations to Metamorphic Rocks .....................................................................................................12 Physical Description of Deposit ................................................................................................................12 Dimensions in Plan View ...................................................................................................................12 Vertical Extent and Form/Shape .......................................................................................................13 Host Rocks ...........................................................................................................................................13 Structural Setting and Control ..........................................................................................................13 Geophysical Characteristics ......................................................................................................................14 Magnetic and Gravity Methods ........................................................................................................14 Radiometric Method ...........................................................................................................................15 Optical Remote Sensing Method .....................................................................................................15 Electrical Methods..............................................................................................................................16 Ground-Penetrating Radar Method .................................................................................................16 Data Integration ..................................................................................................................................17 Hypogene Ore Characteristics ..................................................................................................................17 Supergene Ore and Gangue Characteristics ..........................................................................................17 Mineralogy, Textures, Structures, and Grain Size .........................................................................17 Mineral Assemblages, Paragenesis, and Zoning Patterns .........................................................19 Weathering/Supergene Processes ..........................................................................................................20 Mineralogical Reactions ...................................................................................................................20 Rates of Reactions and Controlling Factors ..................................................................................20 Effects of Micro- and Macro-Climates ...........................................................................................20 Effects of Hydrologic Setting ............................................................................................................21 Geochemical Characteristics ....................................................................................................................21 Trace Element, Element Association, and Zoning Pattern ...........................................................21 Stable Isotope Geochemistry ...........................................................................................................21 Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry ...................................................................................................21 Petrology of Associated Igneous Rocks ..................................................................................................21 iv Petrology of Associated Sedimentary Rocks ..........................................................................................24 Petrology of Associated Metamorphic Rocks ........................................................................................25 Theory of Deposit Formation ......................................................................................................................25 Ore Deposit System Affiliations ........................................................................................................25 Sources of Nickel and Cobalt ...........................................................................................................25 Sources of Fluids Involved in Ore Component Transport and Character of Conduits/ Pathways that Focus Ore Forming Fluids ..........................................................................25 Chemical Transport and Transfer Processes .................................................................................25 Supergene Enrichment Processes ..................................................................................................26 Exploration/Resource Assessment Guides .............................................................................................26 Geological and Geophysical .............................................................................................................26 Geochemical ........................................................................................................................................26 Attributes Required for Inclusion in Permissive Tract at Various Scales .................................26 Knowledge that Enables Favorability Zonation of Permissive Tracts ........................................26 Geoenvironmental Features and Anthropogenic Mining Effects ........................................................27