In Australia and other parts of the world, iron ore and coal are substantial hitters of minerals. They have been high commodities mined around the globe. For instance, these products count around 30% of the total mines exported in Australia. However, a handful of other valuable minerals have been supplied to the global market in recent times.
Here are the helpful things you need to know about iron ore and nickel mining.
About Nickel
When nickel is added to other metals, the allow becomes much more durable. It can also withstand intense temperatures and become rust-resistant. Nickel is also malleable and is used in making flat sheets and wires. When this product is added to the metal, it forms stainless steel. Therefore, people can use it for various purposes in different industries.
Undoubtedly, nickel has a reputation for its difficulty in refining and mining. It comes from a German name referring to the Devil’s Copper. Miners in 1400s thought this mineral was copper and considered it a devil to mine.
Nickel in Australia
In 1897, nickel was discovered in Australia. However, it was 60 years earlier seen but not in large deposits to mine. Kambalda is where the first mine was built in Western Australia. This country is now the fourth-largest producer of nickel after countries, such as Russia, Canada, and Indonesia. People have to extract nickel from an ore before it gets to its pure form for industrial use.
In many places, nickel is found on the earth as ore deposits. Besides, most the mined nickel around the world come from sulphide deposits. They are more accessible to mine and refine than the ones from lateritic nickel ore. The lateritic ones are found on the surface of the earth and are easy to find. However, they require complicated mining techniques to dissolve the surrounding rocks.