Nickel laterite deposit. . The current nickel resource of the San Felipe deposit is 250 Mt at 1.43% Ni and 0.05% Co.

Located 30 km N of Camagüey.

The San Felipe weathering profile is developed on the serpentinized peridotite of the Camagüey ophiolitic massif (COM). This massif is part of the so-called Northern Cuban Ophiolitic Belt and has been dated as early Cretaceous. These ultramafic bodies represent slices of oceanic lithosphere obducted onto the North American continental margin in the Latest Cretaceous to Late Eocene time during the collision between the volcanic arc of the Caribbean with Jurassic–Cretaceous passive margins.
Camagüey peridotites are essentially made up of mantle tectonites with subordinate gabbro sills and dykes. Mantle peridotites mainly consist of clinopyroxene-rich harzburgite, harzburgite, and minor dunite. Uplift exposed the peridotite bodies to laterization at the beginning of the Miocene.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Cobalt

ⓘ Nickel

Mineral List

10 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

Tauler, Esperança, Galí, Salvador, Benavent, Cristina, Chang-Rodríguez, Alfonso, Núñez-Cambra, Kenya, Khazaradze, Giorgi, Proenza, Joaquín Antonio (2023) Geochemistry and Mineralogy of the Clay-Type Ni-Laterite Deposit of San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba) Minerals, 13 (10) doi:10.3390/min13101281

ⓘ 'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'

References:

ⓘ Chrysotile

Formula: Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

References:

ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'

References:

ⓘ Diopside

Formula: CaMgSi₂O₆

References:

ⓘ Enstatite

Formula: Mg₂Si₂O₆

References:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88

ⓘ 'Kerolite'

Formula: (Mg,Ni)₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · nH₂O (n ~ 1)

References:

ⓘ 'Limonite'

References:

ⓘ Lizardite

Formula: Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

References:

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88

ⓘ Maghemite

Formula: (Fe³⁺_0.67◻_0.33)Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

ⓘ Nontronite

Formula: Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O

References:

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88

ⓘ 'Olivine Group'

Formula: M₂SiO₄

References:

ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'

References:

ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'

Formula: ADSi₂O₆

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88

ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'

Formula: D₃[Si₂O₅](OH)₄

References:

ⓘ 'Smectite Group'

Formula: A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O

References:

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Maghemite	4.BB.15	(Fe³⁺_0.67◻_0.33)Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Chrysotile	9.00.	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
ⓘ	Enstatite	9.DA.05	Mg₂Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Diopside	9.DA.15	CaMgSi₂O₆
ⓘ	Nontronite	9.EC.40	Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O
ⓘ	Lizardite	9.ED.15	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-
ⓘ	'Kerolite'	-	(Mg,Ni)₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · nH₂O (n ~ 1)
ⓘ	'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'	-
ⓘ	'Pyroxene Group'	-	ADSi₂O₆
ⓘ	'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'	-
ⓘ	'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'	-
ⓘ	'Smectite Group'	-	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
ⓘ	'Serpentine Subgroup'	-	D₃[Si₂O₅](OH)₄
ⓘ	'Olivine Group'	-	M₂SiO₄

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Chrysotile	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Lizardite	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
H	ⓘ Nontronite	Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O
H	ⓘ Kerolite	(Mg,Ni)₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · nH₂O (n ~ 1)
H	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
H	ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup	D₃[Si₂O₅](OH)₄
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Chrysotile	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
O	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
O	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Lizardite	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
O	ⓘ Maghemite	(Fe³⁺_0.67◻_0.33)Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Nontronite	Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Kerolite	(Mg,Ni)₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · nH₂O (n ~ 1)
O	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
O	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
O	ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup	D₃[Si₂O₅](OH)₄
O	ⓘ Olivine Group	M₂SiO₄
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Nontronite	Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Chrysotile	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Mg	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Lizardite	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Mg	ⓘ Kerolite	(Mg,Ni)₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · nH₂O (n ~ 1)
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Nontronite	Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Chrysotile	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Si	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Lizardite	Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Si	ⓘ Nontronite	Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Kerolite	(Mg,Ni)₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · nH₂O (n ~ 1)
Si	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup	D₃[Si₂O₅](OH)₄
Si	ⓘ Olivine Group	M₂SiO₄
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Maghemite	(Fe³⁺_0.67◻_0.33)Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Nontronite	Na_0.3Fe₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ · nH₂O
Ni	Nickel
Ni	ⓘ Kerolite	(Mg,Ni)₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · nH₂O (n ~ 1)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North America

Central AmericaSubregion

North America PlateTectonic Plate

Greater Antilles ArcVolcanic Arc

The CaribbeanRegion

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References

T. Gallardo, A. Chang, E. Tauler and J. A. Proenza (2010): El Yacimiento de San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba): un Ejemplo de Lateritas Niquelíferas Tipo Arcilla. Macla 13, 87-88. [see link]

www.ehu.es (n.d.) http://www.ehu.es/sem/macla_pdf/macla13/Macla13_087.pdf

[1]Tauler, Esperança, Galí, Salvador, Benavent, Cristina, Chang-Rodríguez, Alfonso, Núñez-Cambra, Kenya, Khazaradze, Giorgi, Proenza, Joaquín Antonio (2023) Geochemistry and Mineralogy of the Clay-Type Ni-Laterite Deposit of San Felipe (Camagüey, Cuba) Minerals, 13 (10) doi:10.3390/min13101281

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San Felipe deposit, Camagüey District, Camagüey Province, CubaiRegional Level TypesSan Felipe depositDeposit Camagüey DistrictDistrict Camagüey ProvinceProvince CubaCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Commodity List

Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

Select Rock List Type

Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

San Felipe deposit, Camagüey District, Camagüey Province, Cuba i
Regional Level Types
San Felipe deposit Deposit
Camagüey District District
Camagüey Province Province
Cuba Country