Nickel ore specific weight: density by type

Nickel is a fairly common element in nature. Its content in the earth’s crust equals 0.01% of the total mass. In pure native form, nickel can be found only in iron meteorites, where its content may reach 25%. Under natural conditions, it occurs only in bound form as part of various ores.

Types of nickel ores

Nickel ores whose mining and processing are considered profitable are divided into:

• sulfide ores;
• silicate ores.

The main ore minerals developed on an industrial scale for extracting nickel, copper, sulfur and other accompanying substances are the following.

Pyrrhotite or magnetic pyrite

• Has a variable chemical composition with different percentages of Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Mo and As impurities.
• Practical value of the ore is limited to extraction of nickel, iron and sulfur.
• Specific weight of pyrrhotite is 4.9-5.2 g/cm³.
• The mineral has grayish-cream shades with metallic luster, is brittle, has good electrical conductivity and magnetic properties.

Magnetite as an associated iron mineral

Magnetite is an iron ore mineral in its own right; in nickel ores it is treated as an associated iron-bearing mineral that affects density and processing.

• A crystalline black mineral with metallic or greasy-resinous luster.
• Specific weight of magnetite is 4.9-5.2 g/cm³.
• It has strong ferromagnetic properties that remain even after grinding the mineral into sand; it is non-toxic, inert and widespread in nature.
• Practical value: extraction of iron, Fe content up to 73%, production of products from fused magnetite, electrodes and so on.

Pentlandite or iron-nickel pyrite

• Fine-crystalline, granular bronze-yellow mineral with strong metallic luster, brittle, part of pyrrhotite deposits.
• Specific weight of iron-nickel pyrite is 4.5-5 g/cm³.
• It has no magnetic properties.
• In many industrial copper-nickel sulfide ores, pentlandite is the main nickel mineral. Such ores may also contain copper, cobalt, platinum-group metals and other valuable components.

Chalcopyrite or copper pyrite

• A fine-crystalline mineral of golden-yellow color, called “fool’s gold” for its similarity to red gold, with bright metallic luster and a greenish tint.
• Specific weight of chalcopyrite is 4.1-4.35 g/cm³.
• The main copper ore mineral, widely represented in various genetic rock structures.
• Mineral inclusions have been found in lunar soil samples and in inclusions of precious stones.

Rare nickel ores are secondary from the point of view of industrial development, because their nickel content does not exceed 4.5%. These include pyrite, cubanite, chromite and others. Sulfide ores, besides nickel, copper and cobalt, contain precious metals such as gold and silver, as well as tellurium and selenium.

Nickel ore deposits mostly belong to Precambrian platforms and crystalline shields. They occur as beds, veins and lenses and may reach 50 meters in thickness. The Mount Keith deposit in Western Australia is the most massive, with a thickness of 300 m.