Quick viewing(Text Mode)

The Life of Ni 2

The Life of Ni 2

The life of Ni 2

CONTENTS ABOUT 3 NICKEL PROPERTIES 4 NICKEL RESOURCES AND RESERVES 7 NICKEL 9 NICKEL PRODUCTION 11 NICKEL USE 13 FIRST USE OF NICKEL 14 END USE OF NICKEL 15 RECYCLING: A NEW LIFE FOR NI 16 OUTLOOK 18 3

About 80 WHILE THE Nickel CONCENTRATION OF NICKEL IN THE ’S CRUST Nickel is a naturally occurring metallic element with a IS AT 80 PARTS silvery-white, shiny appearance. It is the fifth most common PER MILLION, THE element on earth and occurs extensively in the earth’s crust EARTH’S CORE and core. Nickel, along with , is also a common element in , and can even be found in small quantities in CONSISTS MAINLY plants, animals and seawater. OF A NICKEL-IRON . Nickel has been found in metallic artefacts dating back more than 2000 years. It was first identified and isolated as an element by the Swedish chemist, Axel Cronstedt, in 1751. Mine production of nickel began in in 1848, followed by in 1875 and in 1886. During this in the 19th century, nickel came to prominence in and in alloys such as “nickel ” in which it is alloyed with and (it does not actually contain any silver).

Nickel’s name comes from the German term ‘Kupfernickel’ or Devil’s Copper, as the miners in the 15th century thought the looked red-brown like copper – but it was too difficult to mine. 4

Nickel properties

HIGH MELTING RESISTS VERY DUCTILE ALLOYS POINT, 1453 ºC CORROSION AND READILY OXIDATION

Nickel is widely used in hundreds of thousands of products for consumer, industrial, military, transport, aerospace, marine and architectural applications. Its outstanding physical and chemical properties make nickel essential in many end- use products. 5

MAGNETIC CAN BE HAS CAN BE FULLY AT ROOM DEPOSITED BY CATALYTIC RECYCLED TEMPERATURE PROPERTIES

PRODUCTS CONTAINING NICKEL ARE:  EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF ENERGY AND RESOURCE USE  DURABLE WITH LOW MAINTENANCE  RECYCLABLE 6

300 THE WORLD’S NICKEL RESOURCES ARE CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AT ALMOST 300 MILLION TONS.

KNOWN NICKEL RESOURCES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, AS HAS PRODUCTION.

Albania 0.9% Kazakhstan 0.7% 0.2% Turkey 0.6% Ethiopia 0.1% Zambia 0.5% 0.9% Oman 0.6% Venezuela 0.1% Ivory Coast 0.1% Dominican Puerto Rico 0.4% Togo 0.1% Togo 0.1% Serbia 1.1% Republic 0.7% Macedonia 0.3% Poland 0.1% Botswana 1.3% Spain 0.1% Norway 0.1% Cameroon 1.1% 1.3% India 1.1% Tanzania 1.5% Myanmar 1.2% 17.7% Australia 10.1% 1.3% Zimbabwe 3.1% 1.8% International Waters 3.1% Colombia 1.8% Burundi 2.0% 4.1% Tanzania 1.1% United States 4.3% Guatemala 2.2% SULPHIDE 2.4% WORLD RESOURCE China 5.1% WORLD Ivory Coast 2.4% RESOURCE South Africa 28.1% United States 0.2% 178 MILLION 1.4% METRIC TONS 18.7% 118 MILLION New Caledonia 8.4% METRIC TONS

Canada 18.6%

Russia 2.2% Cuba 9.1% 17.3% 10.1% Brazil 8.3%

Source: Gavin M. Mudd and Simon M. Jowitt, A Detailed Assessment of Global Nickel Resource Trends and Endowments, 2014 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc. , v. 109, pp. 1813–1814 7 Nickel resources and reserves*

The world’s nickel resources are currently estimated at almost 300 million tons.

Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Russia and Canada account for more than 50% of the global nickel resources. Economic concentrations of nickel occur in sulphide and in laterite-type ore deposits.

Despite the fact that nickel mining has significantly increased over the past three decades, known nickel reserves and resources have also steadily grown. Various parameters play a role in this evolution, including better knowledge and increased exploration activities in remote areas, driven by attractive commodity prices. Improved technologies in mining, and refining, as well as increased capacities, also allow for lower-grade nickel ore to be processed.

There are also reckoned to be significant nickel deposits in the . nodules, which are found on the deep-sea floor, contain significant amounts of various , including nickel. According to recent estimates, there are more than 290 million tons of nickel contained in such deposits. The development of deep-sea mining technologies is expected to facilitate access to these resources in the future.

* Reserves and resources are defined terms in deposits classification and are based on their geologic certainty and economic value. Reserves are defined as being valuable and economically, legally and technically feasible to be extracted. Resources are potentially valuable and for which reasonable prospects exist for eventual extraction. Reference: US Geological Survey, 1980, Principles of a Resource/Reserve classification for , Circular 831

NINE COUNTRIES ACCOUNT FOR 75% OF GLOBAL NICKEL RESERVES. LATERITE-TYPE (OR - TYPE) RESOURCES ARE FOUND IN INDONESIA, THE PHILIPPINES, BRAZIL, CUBA AND NEW CALEDONIA. SULPHIDE- TYPE DEPOSITS ARE FOUND IN SOUTH AFRICA, RUSSIA AND CANADA. AUSTRALIA HAS THE BIGGEST NICKEL RESOURCES WITH BOTH SULPHIDE- AND LATERITE- Laterite Sulphide TYPE ORE DEPOSITS. Source: Gavin M. Mudd and Simon M. Jowitt, A Detailed Assessment of Global Nickel Resource Trends and Endowments, 2014 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc. Economic Geology, v. 109, pp. 1813–1814 8

Cradle-to-gate Unlike most other metals, nickel are found in diverse geological formations, in different mineralogical forms, at different depths, with varying percentages of nickel content, and often with other metals present. The processing techniques used depend on these variables which different rates of recovery.

RESOURCES

ORE MINING Surface - underground

Sulphidic Lateritic Ore Ore UPSTREAM SUPPLIES Electricity - fuels - materials BENEFICIATION ORE PREPARATION

PRIMARY PRIMARY EXTRACTION EXTRACTION

REFINING

Class 1 nickel Ferronickel By-products 9 Nickel mining

Nickel-containing ores are currently mined in more than 25 countries worldwide. The Asia Pacific region accounts for more than 70% of global nickel mine production. Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, Australia and Canada are the biggest nickel producers. 70% ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIES* While mine production in Canada and Russia is mainly linked ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN to the mining of sulphide-type ore deposits, Indonesia and 70% OF GLOBAL NICKEL MINE the Philippines predominantly mine . In Australia, both PRODUCTION AND, GIVEN THE laterite and sulphide mine production take place. Due to their ABUNDANCE OF THEIR NICKEL geological formation, laterite-type ore deposits and mines are RESERVES, THE REGION IS principally found in equatorial regions and production from this EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT THE type of deposits has steadily increased in recent decades. FOREFRONT OF NICKEL MINING IN THE FUTURE. The main nickel mining companies include Ambatovy, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, , JFE Mineral Company Ltd., * APEC figures include Russian production. Lundin Mining Corporation, MMC Nickel, Pacific Metals Co. Ltd., Corporation, Eramet, , Sumitomo Metals Mining Co. Ltd., Vale, and Western Areas Ltd. NICKEL MINE OUTPUT (KT)

Finland 0.9% Russia Canada 12.1% 10.7% Serbia 0.3% FYROM Spain 0.2% 0.8% China. P.R. 0.4% Cuba Greece 4.6% 2.3% 1.0% Vietnam 0.3% Philippines Myanmar 21.2% Guatemala (Burma) 1.8% 1.0% Papua New Colombia Madagascar Indonesia Guinea 3.5% Botswana 1.8% 8.1% 1.0% 1.3% Brazil 4.7% Zimbabwe 0.6% New World Total South Africa Caledonia 2.5% Australia 8.1% 2.2 MILLION 11.2% METRIC TONS

Source: INSG Yearbook 2015. Data from 2014 10

AFRICA Madagascar 2% South Africa 2% 4% Zimbabwe <1%

AMERICAS Brazil 4% Canada 8% Colombia 2% 15% Cuba <1% Dominican Rep. 1%

ASIA China. P.R. 35% Indonesia 1% Japan 9% 47% Korea. Rep. 1% Myanmar (Burma) 1%

46% EUROPE IN JUST 10 YEARS, CHINA EU27 6% HAS BECOME THE GLOBAL Austria <1% Finland 2% LEADER IN NICKEL France <1% PRODUCTION. IN 2013, MORE Greece 1% 24% United Kingdom 2% THAN A THIRD OF GLOBAL FYROM 1% NICKEL PRODUCTION Norway 5% Russia 12% ORIGINATED FROM CHINA. Serbia <1% ANNUAL GROWTH RATES Ukraine 1% OVER RECENT YEARS HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS 46%.

OCEANIA Australia 7% 10% New Caledonia 3%

Source: INSG Yearbook 2015. Data from 2014. Figures are rounded. Note that INSG allocates Russian production to Europe in accordance with UN practice. 11 Nickel production

Over the past ten years, global nickel output has increased by more than 65%, while that of China has up by a factor of 13.

The output of primary nickel production is generally divided into two main product categories.

Nickel Class I describes a of nickel products comprising electrolytic nickel, powders and briquettes, as well as carbonyl nickel.

Nickel Class II comprises nickel pig iron and ferronickel. These nickel products commonly have a lower nickel content and are used especially in stainless production, where producers take advantage of the iron content.

I II

ROUGHLY 55% OF THE TOTAL NICKEL MINING OUTPUT RELATES TO CLASS I NICKEL PRODUCTS, WITH CLASS II NICKEL PRODUCTS ACCOUNTING FOR THE REMAINING 45%. 1.99 MILLION METRIC TONS TOTAL ANNUAL WORLD PRODUCTION 12

China accounted for half of global nickel use in 2014. Asia plays a dominant role when it comes to the first use with roughly 70% global market share followed by Europe with roughly 20% and the US with around 8%. 13

Nickel use

OCEANIA 0.1% Australia 0.1% Ukraine 0.3% AFRICA 1.1% South Africa 1.0% Other EU 0.3% Other Africa 0.1% Sweden 1.4% United Kingdom 1.2% Brazil 1.0% EUROPE 19.1% Spain 2.1% 9.8% Slovenia 0.2% Canada 0.4% Romania 0.1% Mexico 0.1% United States 8.1% Poland 0.2% Italy 3.1% Other America 0.2% Germany 3.7%

France 1.5% Finland 1.6% Czech Republic 0.3% Belgium/Lux. 1.5% Austria 0.6% Russia 1.1% Other Asia 1.1% Turkey 0.2% Thailand 0.2% NICKEL WORLD USE South Korea 4.1% North Korea 0.1% 1.86 MILLION METRIC TONS Japan 7.5%

India 2.6% Taiwan. China 2.8% Hong Kong 0.3% ASIA 69.9%

China. P.R. 50.9%

A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN NICKEL MINING, PRODUCTION AND USE CAN BE OBSERVED. THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO STOCKPILING AS A RESULT OF FLUCTUATIONS IN DEMAND. Note: The numbers shown are % of global use Source: INSG Yearbook 2015. Data from 2014 14 First use of Nickel

The first use of nickel is defined as the conversion of nickel products into intermediate products, which form the basis for nickel-containing end-use products. In nearly all cases, these first- use products undergo further processing Nickel containing before they are ready for use. stainless steel 66%

TWO THIRDS OF GLOBAL NICKEL PRODUCTION IS USED TO PRODUCE STAINLESS STEEL. AS AN ALLOYING ELEMENT, NICKEL CONTRIBUTES TO THE LONGEVITY, 10% Non-ferrous alloys CORROSION RESISTANCE AND LOW MAINTENANCE 9% OF STAINLESS STEEL Plating GOODS. 8% 3% 4%

Foundry Others 15

Metal goods End use 18% of Nickel Electric and electronics The conversion of first-use nickel products 11% into final goods results in different end uses of nickel. Due to its outstanding physical and chemical properties, nickel is used in a wide range of end-use sectors.

28%

Architecture, 10% Building & Construction

14% Tubular products

14% Transport 4% 5%

Others

Source: Heinz Pariser 2014 16

Recycling: a new life for Ni

Similar to other metals, nickel is fully recyclable. Because nickel- containing products have value, an infrastructure for gathering and processing these materials exists. While society is more likely to see metal recycling today as an environmental activity, it has existed for thousands of years as a profitable economic activity. In most countries, the economics of gathering, sorting, preparing, transporting and using metal employs more people and is of greater economic importance than the mining and refining of ores.

Nickel is one of the most valuable common non-ferrous metals, along with aluminium, copper, lead and zinc (Al, Cu, Pb, Zn). Given its value as a commodity, the commercial motivation to use nickel effectively in the first place is very strong. There is a similarly compelling incentive for recovering and recycling nickel effectively at all stages of the production and use cycle.

Recycling efficiencies are calculated based on a set of widely agreed and accepted recycling indicators, which are reviewed on a regular basis in the nickel industry. The global efficiency of recycling nickel from end- of-life products for the reference year 2005 was calculated to be at 63%. Losses that occur after use mainly relate to nickel-containing materials ending up in landfills and so called “non-functional recycling”, i.e., nickel that ends up in other material streams such as steel where the outstanding properties of nickel are not further exploited. Depending on the region and the specific end uses, nickel-recycling efficiencies can DUE TO ITS HIGH vary greatly. In the case of nickel-containing stainless steel, very high ECONOMIC VALUE recycling efficiencies can be reached. AND ITS USE IN STAINLESS STEEL AND NICKEL ALLOYS, THE RECYCLING EFFICIENCIES OF NICKEL ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE METALS INDUSTRY. 17

FULLY RECYCLABLE

Nickel is a natural resource, which cannot be consumed. It is fully recyclable again and again without loss of quality, contributing to the Circular Economy (CE) model.

RETURN

USE MAKE 18

Outlook

It is hard to imagine a world without nickel. It is an essential material used in many critical applications that bring widespread benefits to society, from the fundamental necessities of clean air, clean water, safe food preparation, and health care, to everyday items in the home as diverse as kitchenware and computers. One of the best-known nickel-containing materials is stainless steel, which has now been in use for over 100 years.

In industry, nickel catalysts and alloys are at the heart of an efficient and modern chemical industry, including oil refining, allowing the production of low sulphur fuels. Nickel enables clean power generation, and has a role in all renewable energy solutions.

It can be found in advanced green technology that increases energy efficiency and reduces carbon emissions. In architecture, nickel alloys combine functionality and high recyclability with aesthetics.

The best-known properties of nickel – toughness, malleability and enhanced corrosion resistance – allow superior performance in difficult environments and at extremely high temperatures. These properties are why nickel-containing materials play such an important role in providing energy, transport, food and clean water, and why they will continue to contribute to a durable and sustainable economy and society. New applications for nickel in millions of parts and processes going forward will continue to make sizeable contributions relative to the small amounts used.

Nickel-containing materials have the further advantage of being ideally suited for recycling because of their end-of-life value; they are easily identified and can be turned into new, high-quality materials in an efficient manner.

The production and use of nickel adds value in all regions of the world in the form of employment, taxes, investment and the of the end products themselves.

But beyond nickel’s enormous contribution to society, the nickel industry is also committed to ensuring the responsible management of nickel and nickel-containing materials throughout their life cycles. Disclaimer:

Material has been prepared for the general information of the reader and should not be used or relied upon for specific applications without first securing competent advice. While the material is believed to be technically correct, Nickel Institute, its members, staff and consultants do not represent or warrant its suitability for any general or specific use and assume no liability or responsibility of any kind in connection with the information herein.

Copyright © Nickel Institute 2016. All rights reserved.

Design inextremis.be mp5051 Photos : fotolia.com except p. 8: Shutterstock Visit our website www.nickelinstitute.org

Contact [email protected]

Top View