The primary nickel ore is pentlandite, (NiFe)9S8, which often also contains copper, gold, silver, and platinum.

Concentration of sulfide ores involves crushing, grinding, and flotation. Ore that is crushed and ground is mixed with water and special chemicals in flotation cells. The cells are mechanically shaken creating air bubbles which carry the minerals to the surface while waste material sinks to the bottom.

Nickel concentrate normally contains between 6-12% nickel. It also contains a significant amount of sulfur, a major pollutant. The moist concentrate may be leached with sulfuric acid or ammonia or dried and smelted in flash and bath processes.

Applications
Nickel is used to make stainless steel. The demand for nickel is very much a function of the demand for stainless steel. Stainless steel has widespread applications in the construction, chemical engineering, and food processing industries. It is also used to manufacture household appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves.

Nickel is also combined with other metals to make super alloys used by the aerospace industry. Nickel cadmium batteries can be found in various electronics such as mobile phones and digital cameras.