Dignayan Biyernes – Nickel Ore
In today’s #DignayanBiyernes, let us learn about a metallic mineral that plays an important role in the modern world – nickel.
Nickel is the 5th most abundant element on Earth. It is a hard, silvery-white metal that is rust-resistant. It is also malleable and ductile which means that it can be beaten and drawn into thin wires. It is mixed with other metals to create alloys that are stronger and better able to resist corrosion and extreme temperatures.
It occurs as metals in meteors. Whereas combined with other elements, it can be found in terrestrial minerals such as pentlandite and pyrrhotite, the principal ores of nickel.
Do you know that in 2020, the Philippines has produced more nickel than any other nation in the world except for Indonesia?
Our country is also the world’s second-largest producer of nickel ore. Productive nickel deposits occur as sulfides and laterites. Both types occur in our country but nickel laterite deposits have been historically more economic.
Nickel ore deposits have been exploited in Surigao, Palawan, Samar, and also in Zambales. Meanwhile, known nickel ore reserves can be found in Camarines Norte, Quezon Province, Isabela, and Romblon among others.
Today, aside from mixing it with other metals to create stainless steel and other alloys, nickel is also used in batteries, coins, magnets and many more.
Text and image by the NMP Geology and Paleontology Division
© National Museum of the Philippines (2021)
