Today, nickel is recognized as one of the world's most strategic minerals. It plays a vital role in the production of stainless steel, a wide range of industrial applications, and the batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), making it an essential component of the global transition toward cleaner energy.
Yet, centuries ago, nickel was considered virtually worthless. European miners even regarded it as a "troublesome rock" because it resembled copper ore but yielded no copper when processed.
So, how did nickel evolve from a misunderstood metal into one of the world's most sought-after minerals? This article explores the fascinating history of nickel from its early reputation as a worthless ore to its critical role in stainless steel manufacturing and the modern electric vehicle battery industry.
Mistaken for Copper: The Origin of "Devil's Copper"
The history of nickel began long before the metal was successfully isolated.
In the 17th century, miners in Saxony, Germany, discovered a reddish-colored mineral that closely resembled copper ore. Believing they had found a valuable copper deposit, they attempted to extract copper from it but without success.
Frustrated by their repeated failures, the miners blamed an evil spirit known in Saxon folklore as Nickel, a mischievous goblin believed to deceive miners. They nicknamed the mysterious ore Kupfernickel, which literally translates to "Devil's Copper." This unusual name eventually became the origin of the word nickel, the name by which the metal is known today.
A Century Later, Nickel's True Identity Was Revealed
The true identity of Kupfernickel remained a mystery for nearly a century.
In 1751, Swedish chemist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt studied a mineral sample from a mine in Hälsingland, Sweden. After heating the ore with charcoal, he discovered that it contained neither copper nor any previously known metal. Instead, it yielded an entirely new metallic element with unique properties.
Cronstedt became the first scientist to successfully isolate nickel as a distinct chemical element. Inspired by the name Kupfernickel, he shortened it simply to nickel.
However, the discovery was not yet complete. Nickel's unique chemical properties were fully confirmed only in 1775, when Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman succeeded in producing pure nickel, firmly establishing it as a distinct chemical element.
From that point onward, nickel was no longer regarded as the mysterious "Devil's Copper," but as a newly discovered metal with remarkable potential—although its most transformative applications were still yet to come.
From a Curious Mineral to a Material for Coinage
Even after its identity had been established, nickel did not immediately become a widely used metal. It took more than a century before it found practical applications on a large scale.
One of the major turning points came in the 1860s, when the United States began minting coins made from nickel. According to Smithsonian Magazine, nickel was selected because of its abundant availability at a time when other metals traditionally used for coin production were becoming increasingly scarce.
From that point on, nickel was no longer viewed as an unusual mineral that was difficult to process. Instead, it gained recognition as a practical and reliable metal, valued for its excellent corrosion resistance, durability, and ability to form strong alloys with other metals.
A Turning Point: The Birth of Stainless Steel
Nickel's next breakthrough came in the early 20th century.
In 1912, British metallurgist Harry Brearley developed stainless steel, a revolutionary alloy in which nickel became one of the key alloying elements. Combined with iron and chromium, nickel helped create a material that was exceptionally strong, heat-resistant, and highly resistant to corrosion qualities that made it far superior to conventional steel.
This innovation marked a significant turning point for the nickel industry. Global demand for nickel increased rapidly, driven by the growing use of stainless steel across a wide range of sectors.
Today, the majority of the world's nickel production is still used in the manufacture of stainless steel, which is found in countless applications ranging from kitchenware and household appliances to construction materials and heavy industrial equipment.
Read also: What Is Ferronickel? The Material Behind the Strength of Stainless Steel
Nickel's Discovery in Indonesia
While Europe was uncovering the commercial value of nickel, Indonesia's vast nickel deposits remained largely unexplored.
Historical records indicate that Indonesia's first nickel ore deposit was discovered by chance in 1901 by Dutch missionary Albertus Christiaan Kruyt in the Verbeek Mountains, located along the border of present-day Central Sulawesi and South Sulawesi.
This discovery was followed in 1909 by mining engineer Eduard Cornelius Abendanon, who identified another significant nickel deposit in Pomalaa, Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi. Together, these discoveries marked the beginning of more systematic nickel exploration across the Indonesian archipelago.
In the decades that followed, several Dutch companies including Oost Borneo Maatschappij and Bone Tole Maatschappij initiated exploration activities in Sulawesi, laying the foundation for Indonesia's early nickel industry.
However, the industry's early development was not without challenges. During the Japanese occupation, efforts were made to establish a nickel processing plant in Pomalaa, but the project was abandoned after the facilities were destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II.
Following Indonesia's independence, the government gradually assumed control of the country's nickel mining sector. More extensive exploration and development efforts began in the late 1960s, setting the stage for Indonesia's emergence as one of the world's leading nickel-producing nations.