How are nickel laterite deposits mined?

The mining of nickel laterite deposits is primarily an earth-moving operation rather than traditional underground mining. Because these deposits are found near the surface, the extraction process involves the following steps:

• Extraction: Large-scale equipment, including draglines, front-end loaders, and large shovels, is used to extract the nickel-rich strata.1
• Sorting: During the excavation process, workers discard large boulders and waste material to isolate the ore.1
• Transport: The extracted ore is loaded into trucks directly at the mining face and hauled to a smelter for processing.1

While this method is efficient for accessing the ore, it is important to note that mining laterites can have a detrimental impact on the environment, particularly through soil erosion. Ethical mining practices require that companies prioritize land rehabilitation and minimize ecological disruption to protect the surrounding ecosystems.2