Nickel sulfide mineralization hosted in the Latowu ultramafic rocks,

North Kolaka Regency of Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Sufriadin1,*, Ardi A. Jabir1, Yamsar1, Paulina B. Suwae1, Yuya Terui2, Tsubasa Otake2
1Departementof Mining Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Poros Malino, KM-6 Gowa 92171, Indonesia
2Division of Sustainable Resource, Graduate Study of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan

*email address: sufriadin.as@gmail.com

Abstract
Ni sulfide mineralization in the Latowu ultramafic block was investigated with the aim at deciphering mineralogical and chemical properties of host rock and associated
Ni sulfide minerals. Results show the host rocks in the Latowu have undergone serpentinization with high to complete degree. Lizardite is predominant serpentine
species occurring within studied samples. Serpentinization is also responsible in reduction of grain size and density along with magnetization and Ni sulfide alteration.
Pentlandite is the major Ni-sulfide phase present and is characterized by subhedral to anhedral with showing alteration rim. It contains Ni ranging from 13.25 to 27.39
wt% and Fe grade from 30.24 to 42.61 wt%. Serpentinization of host rocks have led to alteration of Pentlandite into Ni-rich silicate then Ni-Fe alloys.

Introduction
Despite Ni sulfide deposits continue to deplete in world Ni resource, however, it still contribute to about 60% of global Ni
production. This is because mining and processing of Ni deposits is more economic compare to Ni laterite deposits. Ni
sulfide deposits are formed by segregation of immiscible magma during crystallization, however they are also possibly
formed by fluid interaction with host rocks during serpentinization of ultramafic protolith. The objective of this paper is to find
out the mineralogical characteristics of Latowu ultramafic host and to describe microscopic appearance and mineral
chemistry of Ni-rich minerals.

Samples & Methods

• Samples used in this study were collected from abandoned mine in Latowu area of North Kolaka, Southeast Suawesi,
Indonesia (Fig. 1).
• Mineralogical analysis was performed by means of optical microscopy (Nikon Eclipse LV100) and X-ray diffractometry
(Shimadzu X-7000)
• Chemical composition of Ni sulfide minerals was determined by Field Emission Electron Probe Microanalyzer (FE-
EMPA, JEOL-8000series). Fig 1 Sample location map

Results Table 1 EPMA data of selected pentlandite grains from Latowu samples.

C Element
A 13-1-1 13-1-2 13-1-5 13-2-2 13-2-3 47C-2-1 47C-2-2 47C-3-4
(wt%)
OPX
Chr Ti 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
Srp-mesh Srp
Fe 39.28 30.24 34.27 41.11 32.93 42.61 30.42 31.25
Srp Cr 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.12
Ol Mag Si 0.06 0.12 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.02
S 30.50 36.11 33.30 33.81 35.08 34.12 31.52 32.55
300 µm 300 µm
Al 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
B D
Mg 0.10 0.16 0.03 0.01 0.19 0.01 0.03 0.02
Mag
O 5.73 3.42 1.01 0.64 5.41 0.71 1.97 0.28
Srp-mesh
Srp Ni 19.56 24.21 26.20 21.57 23.84 19.67 13.25 27.39
Pn Total 95.24 94.27 94.90 97.21 97.48 97.14 77.24 91.63
Spinel
Srp-mesh
Mag

300 µm 150 µm
Conclusions
• Ultramafic rocks in the Latowu block have been serpentinized wih moderate to
Fig.2 Photomicrographs of ultramafic rock samples from Latowu as the complete degree leading to reduction in grain size and density.
host for Ni-sulfide minerals • The presence of serpentine veins indicate that multiple episode of
serpentinization and it was also likely responsible to the formation of magnetite.
A Magnetite B • Pentlandite crystals show alteration textures mainly on the margin and along
Ni-Silicate
the crack and changed into Ni-silicate, magnetite and Ni-Fe alloy phases.
• Pentlandite contains about 13.25 to 27.39 wt% Ni and about 30.24 to 42.61
Serpentine wt% Fe.
• Nickel concentration of whole rock show less than 1 wt% Ni indicating the low
Ni-Silicate Serpentine grade ore.
Pentlandite

Magnetite
Selected References
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C D Magnetite Doriri Creek, Papua New Guinea, Ore Geology Review, 52, 37 – 57.
Serpentine ▪ Holwell, D.A., Adeyemi, Z., Ward, L.A., Smith, D.J., Graham, S.D., McDonald, I., Smith,
J.W., 2017, Low temperature alteration of magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE sulfides as a source for
Magnetite
Chromite hydrothermal Ni and PGE ores: A quantitative approach using automated mineralogy,
Pentlandite
Ore Geology Review, 91, 714-740.
▪ Keays, R.R. and Jowitt, S.M. 2013. The Avebury Ni deposit, Tasmania: A case study of
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▪ Rafianto, R., Attong, F., Matano, A., and Noor, E.S., (2012). The Serpentine-Related
Serpentine Nickel Sulfide Occurrences from Latao, SE Sulawesi: a New Frontier of Nickel
Pentlandite
Exploration in Indonesia, Majalah Geologi Indonesia, vol. 27, pp. 87-107.
▪ Sciortino, M. Mungal, J.E and Moinonen J. (2015). Generation of High-Ni Sulfide and
Fig.3 Back scatterred electron images of altered pentlandite crystals Alloy Phases During Serpentinization of Dunite in the Dumont Sill, Quebec. Economic
Geology, Vol.110, pp. 733-761.

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