🌏 In New Caledonia, nickel is more than just a metal…
It is the economic backbone of the territory.
đź’Ž Its story begins millions of years ago deep within the Earth, with peridotite, a mantle rock that was pushed to the surface.
Under the effects of the tropical climate, water, and wind, it slowly transforms:
- Saprolites: weathered but solid rocks, with green veins rich in nickel.
- Laterites: reddish surface layers, with lower metal content.
⚒️ Over time, this weathering process concentrates nickel in deeper zones, where it becomes the very foundation of New Caledonia’s mining industry.
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