Talc- and serpentine-like 'garnierites' from Falcondo Ni-laterite deposit (Dominican Republic): a HRTEM approach

Abstract

"Garnierites" represent significant Ni ore minerals in the lower horizons of many Ni-laterite deposits worldwide (e.g. Freyssinet et al., 2005). They consist of a green, fine-grained mixture of hydrous i-bearing magnesium phyllosilicates, including serpentine, talc, sepiolite, smectite and chlorite (e.g. Brindley and Hang, 1973; Springer, 1974; Brindley et al., 1979). Thus, "garnierite" is a general descriptive term and is not recognized as a mineral species by the IMA Commission on New Mineral and Mineral Names (CNMMN). For this reason, "garnierites" have been classified as "serpentine-", "talc-" and "clay-like garnierites", respectively (e.g. Brindley and Maksimovic, 1974).