Previous attempts to identify the source of Ni in acid rock drainage associated with coal mining operations within the Buller coalfield, West Coast, New Zealand, have identified the source rock as mudstones and coals, but not the source mineral. This work using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) investigated the Ni content of pyrite contained within the Eocene Kaiata mudstone, the dominant mudstone conformably overlying and laterally interfingering with the coal bearing Brunner Coal Measures. Results conclusively demonstrate that the predominant source of Ni within this lithological unit is pyrite, which agrees with previous results that indicated that the pyrite rich mudstones and coals are the source for Ni rather than the low pyrite sandstone units. If pyrite oxidation and hence acid rock drainage can be controlled by appropriate management methods then by association Ni is also controlled. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.