OREAS 452

OREAS 452 is a nickel–cobalt laterite certified reference material produced from a blend of limonitic and saprolitic nickel ores sourced predominantly from the Bulong nickel laterite deposit in Western Australia.

The blend incorporates multiple Bulong Ni–Co laterite materials, including primary ore shipments and reprocessed material, supplemented by minor additions of lateritic nickel concentrates and clay-rich components derived from Murrin Murrin and Ravensthorpe laterite systems. These materials were combined to achieve the target nickel and cobalt grades while maintaining matrix consistency.

Mineralogically, the material is representative of limonite-dominant nickel laterite systems, characterised by iron oxides (goethite/hematite) hosting nickel and cobalt, with subordinate clay and silicate phases contributed by saprolitic and transitional materials.

OREAS 452 has been characterized using the following methods:

• Borate Fusion XRF- Majors and some traces, including Loss on Ignition (LOI) at 1000 °C
• Sodium peroxide fusion with full suite elemental package by ICP-OES and/or MS finish
• Carbon and sulphur by infrared combustion furnace/CS analyser

Certified values for applicable analytes are operationally defined for each method, with results under OREAS ISO 17034 scope of accreditation.