Pentlandite

Pentlandite is a mineral containing nickel and iron. It is one of the main ores of nickel. It has the chemical formula (Ni,Fe)₉S₈. Most samples have slightly more nickel than iron.

Refining

Pentlandite can be smelted using oxygen. This releases sulfur dioxide gas and leaves behind iron(III) oxide and nickel(II) oxide. The iron is then removed as slag.

Sources

↑ Andrew A Stewart. "Nickel Statistics and Information". National Minerals Information Center. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
↑ "Pentlandite". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
↑ Xia, Fang; Pring, Allan; Brugger, Joël (2012). "Understanding the mechanism and kinetics of pentlandite oxidation in extractive pyrometallurgy of nickel". Minerals Engineering. 27–28: 11–19. Bibcode:2012MiEng..27...11X. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2011.12.001.

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[1] Andrew A Stewart. "Nickel Statistics and Information". National Minerals Information Center. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2025-05-30.

[2] "Pentlandite". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2025-05-30.

[3] Xia, Fang; Pring, Allan; Brugger, Joël (2012). "Understanding the mechanism and kinetics of pentlandite oxidation in extractive pyrometallurgy of nickel". Minerals Engineering. 27–28: 11–19. Bibcode:2012MiEng..27...11X. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2011.12.001.