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#           Nickel Statistics and Information      

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Statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and flow of the mineral commodity *nickel*

Nickel (Ni) is a transition element that exhibits a mixture of ferrous and nonferrous metal properties.   It is both siderophile (i.e., associates with iron) and chalcophile (i.e., associates with sulfur).   The bulk of the nickel mined comes from two types of ore deposits:
                            - laterites where the principal ore minerals are nickeliferous limonite [(Fe,Ni)O(OH)] and garnierite (a hydrous nickel silicate), or
                            - magmatic sulfide deposits where the principal ore mineral is pentlandite [(Ni,Fe) 9 S 8 ].

The ionic radius of divalent nickel is close to that of divalent iron and magnesium, allowing the three elements to substitute for one another in the crystal lattices of some silicates and oxides.   Nickel sulfide deposits are generally associated with iron- and magnesium-rich rocks called ultramafics and can be found in both volcanic and plutonic settings.   Many of the sulfide deposits occur at great depth.  Laterites are formed by the weathering of ultramafic rocks and are a near-surface phenomenon.   Most of the nickel on Earth is believed to be concentrated in the planet's core.

Nickel is primarily sold for first use as refined metal (cathode, powder, briquet, etc.) or ferronickel.   About 65% of the nickel consumed in the Western World is used to make austenitic stainless steel.  Another 12% goes into superalloys (e.g., Inconel 600) or nonferrous alloys (e.g., cupronickel).  Both families of alloys are widely used because of their corrosion resistance.   The aerospace industry is a leading consumer of nickel-base superalloys.  Turbine blades, discs and other critical parts of jet engines are fabricated from superalloys.  Nickel-base superalloys are also used in land-based combustion turbines, such those found at electric power generation stations.  The remaining 23% of consumption is divided between alloy steels, rechargeable batteries, catalysts and other chemicals, coinage, foundry products, and plating.  The principal commercial chemicals are the carbonate (NiCO3), chloride (NiCl2), divalent oxide (NiO), and sulfate (NiSO4).   In aqueous solution, the divalent nickel ion has an emerald-green color.

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### **Annual Publications**

Mineral Commodity Summaries
                            - Nickel    PDF Format:       |  1996  |  1997  |  1998  |  1999  |  2000  |  2001  |  2002  |  2003  |  2004  |  2005  |  2006  |  2007  |  2008  |  2009  |  2010  |  2011  |  2012  |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016  |  2017  |  2018  |  2019  |  2020  |  2021  | ****2022  |  2023  |  **2024**  |
                            - Appendixes

Minerals Yearbook
                            - Nickel    PDF Format:       |  1994  |  1995  |  1996  |  1997  |  1998  |  1999  |  2000  |  2001  |  2002  |  2003  |  2004  |  2005  |  2006  |  2007  |  2008  |  2009  |  2010  |  2011  |  2012  |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016  |  2017  |  2018  |  **2019** |    XLSX Format:       |  2002  |  2003  |  2004  |  2005  |  2006  |  2007  |  2008  |  2009  |  2010  |  2011  |  2012  |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016  |  2017  |  2018  |  **2019**  |  **2020 tables-only release**  |
                            - Archive       |  1932-1993  |
                            - Recycling-Metals

### **Monthly Publications**

Mineral Industry Surveys (discontinued)
                            - Nickel    PDF Format:      2010: |  Jan | Feb | Mar  |  Apr | May | Jun  |  Jul | Aug | Sep  |  Oct | Nov | Dec  |      2009: |  Oct | Nov | Dec  |    XLS Format:      2010: |  Jan | Feb | Mar  |  Apr | May | Jun  |  Jul | Aug | Sep  |  Oct | Nov | Dec  |      2009: |  Oct | Nov | Dec  |

### **Special Publications**

                            - Critical Minerals Review 2021
                            - Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, and Steel Commodity Price Influences  Open-File Report 2007–1257
                            - Factors that Influence the Price of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Rare Earth Elements, and Zn  Open-File Report 2008-1356
                            - Historical Statistics for Mineral and Material Commodities in the United States  Data Series 140                               - Nickel 
                            - International Mineral Exploration Activities From 1995 Through 2004  Data Series 139
                            - Material Use in the United States—Selected Case Studies for Cadmium, Cobalt, Lithium, and Nickel in Rechargeable Batteries  Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5141
                            - Metal Prices in the United States through 2010  Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5188
                            - Ni-Co Laterite Deposits of the World-Database and Grade and Tonnage Models   Open-File Report 2011-1058
                            - Nickel - Makes Stainless Steel Strong   Fact Sheet 2012-3024
                            - Nickel Recycling in the United States in 2004  Circular 1196–Z
                            - Resource Nationalism in Indonesia-Effects of the 2014 Mineral Export Ban
                            - Statistical Compendium                                - Nickel 
                            - U.S. Mineral Dependence-Statistical Compilation of U.S. and World Mineral Production, Consumption, and Trade, 1990-2010  Open-File Report 2013-1184

**Other Sources of Information**
                            - Chemical Industry Applications of Industrial Minerals and Metals. Bureau of Mines Special Publication, 1993, 158 pp.

### Links

                            - International Nickel Study Group
                            - Nickel Institute

### Contacts

#### Andrew A Stewart

##### Mineral Commodity Specialist

National Minerals Information Center

astewart@usgs.gov

703-648-7723