Nickel Exploration Using a Field Portable Spectrometer

Nickel (Ni) is a transition metal with both ferrous and nonferrous characteristics, making it critical across a wide range of industries. Nickel’s primary use is in austenitic stainless-steel production, accounting for roughly 65% of Western World consumption. Another 12% goes into superalloys and nonferrous alloys, prized for their high strength and corrosion resistance, particularly in aerospace and energy sectors. The remaining 23% supports applications in batteries, plating, catalysts, alloy steels, and coinage. (Nickel Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey) Geochemically, nickel is both siderophile (iron-loving) and chalcophile (sulfur-loving), leading to its concentration in two primary ore deposit types: laterite and magmatic sulfide.

In laterite deposits, typically found in tropical climates, nickel is hosted in minerals such as nickeliferous limonite (Fe,Ni)O(OH) and garnierite, a green, hydrous nickel silicate. In contrast, magmatic sulfide deposits occur in mafic and ultramafic intrusions, where pentlandite (Ni,Fe)₉S₈ is the principal ore mineral. These distinct mineral assemblages are key targets in exploration, that are often identified using a field based Spectroradiometer due to their unique spectral signatures.

Both Laterite and magmatic sulfide deposits feature characteristic alteration minerals that can be used as indicators or pathfinders for nickel mineralization. Key minerals include:

  • Serpentine
  • Garnierite (a nickel-rich phyllosilicate)
  • Goethite and hematite
  • Talc, chlorite, smectite, and carbonate phases

Goethite Scan

All of these minerals have unique spectral signatures in the visible and short-wave infrared (VNIR/SWIR) range (350-2500nm), making them suitable targets for Spectral Evolution’s Spectrometers.

Spectral Evolution offers a suite of high-resolution field spectrometers specifically designed for rugged mineral exploration. These are the oreXpress™, oreXplorer™, and oreXpert™. These instruments provide high signal-to-noise ratio data across the full 350–2500nm UV-VIS-NIR range, making them ideal for detecting the subtle spectral features of nickel-bearing minerals. Their lightweight and portable design, combined with Bluetooth connectivity and streamlined field sampling software make it an easy-to-use untethered field instruments. Ruggedized bumpers and no moving parts ensure durability in harsh environments. It is also compatible with the contact probe, mini probe, benchtop probe, and mineral analysis software such as EZ-ID™ which supports accurate, real-time mineral identification. Together, these features make Spectral Evolution’s spectrometers a powerful solution for enhancing field efficiency and exploration success in nickel-targeted programs.

In conclusion, field portable spectrometers from Spectral Evolution provide a powerful tool for modern nickel exploration. By enabling fast and accurate identification of alteration minerals in the field, these instruments help geologists better understand ore-forming processes, vector toward nickel-rich zones, and reduce exploration risk and cost.