Nickel Exploration

The majority of nickel mined throughout the world is derived from two sorts of ore, laterites and garierite. Nickel is removed from the ore base through a process defined as extractive metallurgy. Nickel Exploration has begun to explode as new deposits are being found in South America, specifically Araguaia. Araguaia Nickel has been sending the world's money market into a spin as the alloy metal is highly valued in the industrial application and now a new source has been found.

Araguaia Nickel is being explored in the Brazilian state known as Para. The market for nickel holds strong due to the versatility of the metal. This new discovery of nickel in Araguaia has people holding their breath, waiting to see if the upped price for nickel would hold.

Nickel is incorporated into many industrial and consumer products such as stainless steel, batteries, guitar strings for an electric guitar, magnetics, and plating and to tint green glass. The search for nickel continues with technology making the discoveries much easier with imaging from the air, and has allowed a company doing nickel exploration in Araguaia to announce that they have found two new nickel deposits that will yield a considerable amount of nickel.

Nickel Laterite deposits are found in tropical conditions. Under these conditions fresh rock will weather quickly and at great depths in the earth. The laterite is formed from a soft and deeply weathered mix of oxide and hydroxide mineral and clay. Lateritic nickel deposits are a significant source of metal throughout the world.

It is typical procedure to start the mining process with a geological reconnaissance. Geologists will examine the areas thought to contain metal ores and will make notes of the geological areas that have pertinent features that show in outcrops and prominent landforms.

One indication of an ore deposit is the staining or gossan that is seen as rusty stains on rocks that are formed when the sulphide minerals are oxidized. A light green stain on the surface of rock is an indication of an ore deposit of nickel. Samples will be taken and analyzed for content.

Technology has changed the face of prospecting and mining processes. Nickel exploration is accomplished with remote sensing or the use of radar and photos taken by aircraft or satellites. These images reveal large-scale geological structures where minerals and metals are most likely to be found. Exploration for Araguaia Nickel was accomplished with these new technologically advanced methods, cutting the cost of prospecting.

As the recession in many countries recedes, investment in mining processes has stepped up. These investments are paying off in the South American finds and will be adding to the supply of nickel that can be used for industrial applications. Taking the time to investigate new finds of ore deposits is worthwhile for companies that are skilled in extracting the ore at lower costs. The investment opportunities are best when the companies that have found ore first offer public shares to the mine. A prime example of this is the operations in South America led by Horizonte Minerals.