New Caledonia: Land of Nickel | Elements | GeoScienceWorld
In 1864, a new nickel ore, composed of garnierite ( Fig. 1 ), a green serpentine-group mineral, (Ni,Mg) 3 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4, was discovered in New Caledonia by a young geologist named Jules Garnier (1839–1904). Mining developed very rapidly after 1873. Nickel, cobalt, iron, and also gold, copper, coal and jade were exploited at several sites.