New insights into nanomineralogy and geochemistry of Ni-laterite ores from central Greece (Larymna and Evia deposits)

Nickeliferous laterite ores from two typical central Greece deposits (Larymna and Evia), currently used in the LARCO GMMSA smelting plant to produce ferronickel, were characterized using a combination of diffraction, microscopic, and analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction patterns of various fractions, with emphasis to the clayey material (< 2 μm), after glycolation and heating at 550 °C, indicated that both materials contain crystalline Fe³⁺ oxide (hematite) and chlorite-group phyllosilicates, whereas the Evia sample contains additional illite. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed that the LARCO laterite ores consist of complex nanoscale aggregates of the above-mentioned phases. Different Ni-bearing Mg-Fe-phyllosilicates (mainly chlorite-group minerals), occur in mixture with hematite. Nickel is present in all examined phases, and therefore the separation of pure Ni-phases, by physical or chemical methods, is practically unfeasible. Trace element bulk analyses showed that there no significant differences, with regarding to Ni content concentrations (ca. 0.6–0.7 wt.%), between the initial ore and the clay fraction, for both the Larymna and Evia laterites (ca. 30% and 26% wt.% enrichment respectively). However, the Larymna ore contains double quantities of Co and it is enriched in rare earths compared to Evia (ΣREE = 774 ppm and 76 ppm respectively), while Sc concentrations are comparable in both mining areas (64 ppm and 42 ppm respectively). Discrimination diagrams (e.g. Th/Sc vs. Zr/Sc and Ce/Ce* vs. Eu/Eu*) showed that LARCO laterite Ni-ores do not exclusively originate in ultrabasic -ophiolitic- rocks as previously considered.