Hi all, A peer reviewed study of the nickel cobalt ores in...

Hi all,
A peer reviewed study of the nickel cobalt ores in Wingellina, published in Ore Geology Reviews.

It turns out that most of the nickel and cobalt is contained in complexes of lithiophorite-asbolane intermediates. The Ni and Co are attracted to manganese, and often replace alumina, producing many variants of transitional minerals.

This relationship is plotted as a ternary:


Asbolane Ni Co ores are generally simpler to beneficiate apparently, vs goethite (BAR/CNJ). It may be possible to sort the ore between goethite/hematite and lithiophorite-asbolane rich high-grade sections prior to treatment, but the paper states that mechanical grading is difficult, because of the complexity of the limonite and its fine grains. I look forward to a company update on the mets work (re latest presentation).

Collerina (CLL) also has a lateritic deposit with alumina, and has long asserted that it can produce HPA alongside Ni and Co, without HPAL. I can't find out if they have lithiophorite, but I'm guessing it's likely.

The report doesn't discuss the lithium in the lithiophorite (the name means 'lithium bearer') because their tools couldn't measure it. Webmineral states that it contains 3.16% Li2O (vs 8.03% for spodumene). Another source says 0-8% oxide. For comparison, nickel reported as 3.96-19.88% oxide, and cobalt 0-15.68% oxide. I don't think lithiophorite has ever been used as a commercial lithium source, but it is interesting, nonetheless.