Work

Knowledge Structure and Frontier Evolution of Research on Nickel Deposits

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Nickel (Ni) resources are critical for the development of modern industry. This study investigates the knowledge structure and frontier evolution of Ni deposit research by constructing a domain-specific knowledge graph using bibliometric analysis and semantic extraction from 7090 publications (1966–2024) sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection. The results show that Ni research has three distinct phases: slow growth (1966–1990), early growth (1991–2010), and rapid expansion (2011–present). The collaborative network of institutions in which articles are published forms three regional clusters centered on China, Russia, and Australia. Keyword burst analysis identifies emerging frontiers, including sulfur isotopes, pyrite geochemistry, and LA-ICP-MS applications. Temporal keyword analysis identifies “platinum-group minerals”, “ore-forming fluids”, “isotopic analysis”, and “Eastern Tianshan” interactions as five pivotal research frontiers in nickel deposit studies. The knowledge graph framework demonstrates significant potential in mitigating data fragmentation, enhancing interdisciplinary data accessibility, and guiding future exploration strategies. This study shows the important role of knowledge maps in optimizing the study of nickel deposits.

Source: Minerals

DOI: 10.3390/min15050464

Authors: Ran Liu, Pengjie Cai, Xin Chen

Institutions: Nanjing University, China University of Geosciences, State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources

Language: English

Topic: scientometrics and bibliometrics research

Subfield: Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China