OREAS 453

OREAS 453 is a nickel–cobalt laterite certified reference material produced from a blend of limonitic, saprolitic and clay-rich nickel laterite materials sourced predominantly from the Bulong nickel laterite deposit in Western Australia.

The blend incorporates multiple Bulong Ni–Co laterite materials, including primary ore shipments, reprocessed material and related lateritic feedstocks, together with supplementary saprolitic and clay-rich components from Murrin Murrin and Ravensthorpe laterite systems. Minor additions of lateritic nickel concentrate were included to achieve the target nickel and cobalt grades while maintaining matrix consistency.

Mineralogically, the material is representative of transitional nickel laterite systems, combining iron oxide–rich limonitic components with clay and silicate phases typical of saprolitic and weathered laterite profiles. Nickel and cobalt are hosted across both oxide and silicate-rich lateritic phases.

OREAS 453 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.