Nickeldominant

Nickeldominant is an adjective used in materials science and mineralogy to describe a material whose composition is dominated by nickel. In such materials, nickel constitutes the largest share of the principal elements by weight or atomic fraction, making nickel the defining constituent of the system.

In geology and mining, nickel-dominant minerals refer to nickel-rich sulfides or oxides where nickel is the principal metal, as opposed to copper-dominant or iron-dominant minerals. These occur in specific magmatic sulfide deposits and lateritic nickel ore deposits, and their extraction underpins the nickel mining industry. The term emphasizes composition rather than specific mineral species, which can vary widely.

In metallurgy, nickeldominant or nickel-based alloys are those in which nickel is the primary element, with aluminum, chromium, cobalt, or other elements added for strength and corrosion resistance. Nickel-based superalloys used in high-temperature applications, such as turbine blades, are typical examples. Nickel-copper systems like Monel also fall into this category when nickel is the major constituent.

Terminology and usage: nickeldominant is not as standardized as nickel-rich or nickel-based. Some sources reserve it for materials where nickel is unequivocally dominant, while others use it informally to describe high-nickel compositions. The term's precise meaning can vary by discipline.