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The Exploration of the Nickel Laterite Deposits in Irian Barat, Indonesia

1973; Geological Society of Malaysia; Volume: 6; Linguagem: Inglês

10.7186/bgsm06197320

2637-109X

C. D. Reynolds, l. Havryluk, S. Bastaman, S. Atmowidjojo,

Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods

Nickel-bea rin g la terites developed in-situ on nickel-bearing peridotites were examined during the period 1969- 1971 at a number of loca lities in the Cyclops and Waigeo areas in Irian Barat, I nd ones ia . The lateri tes occur in both forested and unforested areas and as plateau and hill-sid e ty pes of deposits. The di stribution of chemical elements within the profile is similar to other tropica l nickel laterite deposits, i.e. , concentration of Al zOa and Fe in the nea r surface layers with an accompanying depletion of Si02 and MgO and concentration of nickel in the low iron portion of the profile. Exploration was by drilling (hand augers, mechanica l a uge rs a nd coring drill s) and tes t pits. Through 1971 more than 50,000 meters of drilling a nd testpitting were completed. Samples were a nalyzed for Ni, Co a nd Fe at PTPNI's chemica l labora tory on Waigeo Island. All drilling information, chemica l anal yses and mining class ifi cations are being analyzed by data processing techniques. In late 1971 a 12,000 ton bul k sa mple was coll ected on Gag Island and shipped to Fort Saskat­ chewan, Canada for testing and eva lu ation studies .