Garnierite Mineralization from Falcondo Ni-Laterite Deposit (Dominican Republic)

Abstract

Mine geologists use the term "garnierite" for the green Ni-rich silicate minerals that occur in many Ni-laterite deposits. However, garnierite is not a mineral species recognized by the Commission on New Mineral and Mineral Names (CNMMN). Actually, garnierite is a general name for the NiMg hydrosilicates that usually occur as an intimate mixture that commonly includes two or more of the following minerals: serpentine, talc, sepiolite, smectite, and chlorite (e.g. Brindley and Hang, 1973; Springer, 1974; Brindley et al., 1979; Gleeson et al., 2004).