OREAS 455

OREAS 455 is a nickel–cobalt laterite certified reference material produced from a blend of predominantly limonitic nickel laterite materials sourced from the Bulong nickel laterite deposit in Western Australia.

The blend incorporates multiple Bulong Ni–Co laterite feedstocks, including primary ore shipments, process plant material and reprocessed components, supplemented by minor additions of clay-rich and saprolitic materials from the Murrin Murrin and Ravensthorpe laterite systems. A small proportion of lateritic nickel concentrate was included to achieve the target nickel and cobalt grades.

Mineralogically, the material is representative of iron oxide–rich limonitic laterite, dominated by goethite and associated Fe-oxide phases, with subordinate clay and silicate components. Nickel and cobalt are primarily hosted within iron oxide phases, consistent with typical limonite-zone mineralisation in laterite profiles.

OREAS 455 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.