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Many years ago I had a summer job working as a geologist's assistant in California and Oregon. Coastal Mining Company was searching for nickel laterite deposits similar to the one they were mining at Riddle, Oregon. When ultrabasic peridotite rocks are subjected to eons of leaching and weathering, soils and rocks called nickel laterites may form. Selective leaching of the ultrabasic rocks leaves soils rich in iron and nickel. Garnierite is a name describing a small group of serpentine minerals containing nickel, but commonly refers to nepouite. Shown above is a museum-quality specimen of garnierite from the Riddle, Oregon, nickel mine. This specimen is a boxwork of altered ultrabasic rock laced with silicified garnierite. Nickel laterites are still being mined in New Caledonia, and a few other world locations, but the Oregon mine is now depleted. (Specimen #M449 weighs approx. 2.2 lbs.and measures ~6" x 4" x 2," $45.00)
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