The chief attributes of nickel alloys are strength, ductility, and resistance to corrosion and heat. Many stainless steels contain nickel. Nickel steels are used in safes and armor plate. Alloys of nickel and copper are widely used, e.g., Monel metal, nickel bronze, and nickel silver. Constantan is a nickel-copper alloy used in thermocouples.
Nickel is present in most meteorites.
It is also found in trace amounts in plants and animals. The chief production of nickel is from the sulfide ores mined near Sudbury, Ont., Canada. Nickel sulfide ores are concentrated by the flotation process , then smelted or roasted to partially convert them to the oxide form, and further treated in a Bessemer converter to form a matte. The end product is in the form of nickel cathodes, pellets, or powder. Listing from Electric Library , a pay service.