NICKEL SILICATESMy own curiosity ?
Were the silicates removed to create the initial
bulk concentrate and replaced with, more magnesium ? 50/50% Nickel found that in the serpentinized rock about
one - half of the total nickel occurs as visible native nickel-iron;
the rest apparently is in the silicate structure of the serpentine. In the
fresh olivine and pyroxene, all the nickel appears to be in the silicate. Page 7
https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1223/report.pdf What does nickel silicate look like ? https://www.dakotamatrix.com/mineralpedia/7628/pecoraite Lewis ( structure )
https://structimg.guidechem.com/8/20/401599.png Petrographic Study Not exactly what i was searching for...
In this study they show particles of - nickeliferous, pentlandite
in silicate but... separate on own.
What's the holy grail ? Nickel actually bonded to -
silicic acid ( ionic form ) or silicate metal. Could petrographic's identify these kind of bonds ?
I wouldn't wager on it... nontheless, here's a peak at petrographic images.
Again, only identifying
iron nickels suspended in, silicates. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Petrographic-and-mineralogical-characterization-of-nickel-in-serpentinite-left-The_fig6_281783550 As mentioned in former post,
Nickel Silicates are not on the geological roster.
Niether mag