Nickel is a base or nonferrous metal that has a silvery-white and shiny appearance. The metal is the fifth-most common element on earth. It is also a common element in meteorites and is present in small quantities in plants, animals, and seawater.
The world's leading nickel-producing country is Indonesia, which produces more than twice the tonnage of the metal each year than the second-leading producer, the Philippines. About 70% of annual nickel output each year goes to stainless steel production. Other uses include nonferrous alloys, alloy steels and castings, plating, and batteries.
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