Nickel is a fairly common element in nature. In the earth's crust, its content is 0.01% of the total mass. In pure native form, nickel can be found only in iron meteorites, where its content can reach up to 25%. In natural conditions, it is contained only in a bound form in the composition of various ores.
Nickel ores, the extraction, and processing of which is considered profitable, are divided into:
The main ore minerals developed on an industrial scale for the extraction of nickel, copper, sulfur, and other related substances are the following.
It has a variable chemical composition with different percentages of impurities Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Mo, As.
The practical significance of the ore is limited to the extraction of nickel, iron, and sulfur.
The specific gravity of pyrrhotite is 4.9 - 5.2 g/cm3.
The mineral is grayish-cream shades with a metallic luster, brittle, with good electrical conductivity, has magnetic properties.
A crystalline mineral of black color with a metallic or greasy-resin luster. The specific gravity of magnetite is 4.9-5.2 g/cm3. It has strong ferromagnetic properties that persist even after grinding the mineral into sand, non-toxic, inert, widespread in nature. Of practical importance is the extraction of iron (Fe content up to 73%), the production of products from fused magnetite (electrodes, etc.).
A fine-crystalline, granular bronze-yellow mineral with a strong metallic luster, brittle, is part of pyrrhotite deposits. The specific gravity of iron-nickel pyrite is 4.5-5 g/cm3. It has no magnetic properties. In 90% of all copper-nickel ores mined for nickel smelting, pentlandite is present, they also contain a lot of copper, cobalt, platinum, and other valuable metals.
The mineral of a fine crystalline form of golden yellow color was named "golden blende" for its similarity to scarlet gold, has a bright metallic luster with a greenish tinge. The specific gravity of chalcopyrite is 4.1 - 4.35 g/cm3.
