Why are laterite nickel deposits found close to the surface?

Laterite nickel deposits are found near the surface because they are formed through the long-term weathering of rocks, such as peridotite, in tropical and subtropical climates.12

During this process, the host rock undergoes significant chemical changes. As the rock weathers, a major portion of the original material is removed, while the contained nickel dissolves and percolates downward through the soil profile. This downward movement allows the nickel to concentrate in specific strata near the surface, often resulting in a soft, claylike material. In some cases, this nickel is redeposited at or below the water table as the mineral garnierite. Because these deposits are the direct result of surface-level environmental and chemical weathering conditions persisting over thousands of years, they remain accessible in the upper layers of the earth's crust.132