Garnierite and the nickel of New Caledonia
Garnierita y níquel de Nueva Caledonia
- Date
- 1864 · confidence medium
- Place
- Thio, New Caledonia, France
- Credited to
- Jules Garnier
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What was discovered
Engineer Jules Garnier discovered large deposits of nickel-magnesium silicate (garnierite) in New Caledonia in 1864. It began the exploitation of nickel laterites, which today yield a large share of the world's nickel.
The attribution to Garnier is the traditional one; the mineral was named in his honour. Commercial exploitation began in the following years.
What it led to
- the global nickel and stainless steel industry
- New Caledonian mining and land conflicts with the Kanak people
- laterite smelting processes