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The FINNICKEL database on nickel deposits in Finland, in ACCESS® format, was created during 2004-2008. The database is available on a CD, and its contents also are accessible through the Internet pages of the GTK ( http://en.gtk.fi/ExplorationFinland/ ). Presently (18 February 2009), the database contains information on 79 deposits and significant prospects where nickel is the main commodity.

To be included into the database, a prospect must have at least one drill hole or continuous outcrop sample with a grade of ≥0.5 % Ni equivalent ≥1 m, a few exceptions is allowed. All significant aspects of the deposits – location, holdings, discovery, exploration and mining history, deposit and wall rock geology, mineralogy, geochemistry and geo­physical features and genetic modelling – are covered by internally linked tables in the database. The database also includes a large number of photographs, maps and other figures, and geochemical, mineral analysis and petrophysical data in table format. Entries contain references to all primary sources of data.

The FINNICKEL indicates nickel occurrences nearly throughout the country, in nearly all major geological domains. Finland has a long history in nickel mining, beginning in 1941 at Makola and continuing at present at Hitura. The Palaeoproterozoic orogenic deposits (Svecofennian, 1.9 Ga) have been the most rewarding exploration targets. Ten such deposits have been exploited for a total production of 43 Mt of ore at average grades of 0.7 % Ni and 0.3 % Cu. The total pre-mining resource of all the deposits known to date is about 60 Mt at 0.7 % Ni.

The Svecofennian Kotalahti and Vammala Nickel Belts in central and southern Finland host several dozens of potential deposits, in some of which the average grade can be up to 2 % Ni. The deposits are hosted by mafic-ultramafic intrusions within migmatitic mica gneiss or in the contact zone of Archaean and Proterozoic rocks. The Archaean komatiites (ca 2.8 Ga) in eastern and northern Finland and the Palaeoproterozoic komatiites (ca 2.05 Ga) in northern Finland provide a high potential for new discoveries. The largest komatiitic deposit discovered is Ruossakero in northwestern Lapland with resources of 4.2 Mt at 0.52 % Ni. Also the komatiite-coeval, intrusion-hosted Keivitsa deposit contains a significant metal reserve. Other nickel deposit types in Finland include low-grade sedimentary-hosted deposits (Talvivaara), the deposits hosted by Outokumpu-type rocks, and younger deposits include those hosted by dolerites (Petolahti). (http://en.gtk.fi/ExplorationFinland/).

Geology