Industrial uses:   Nickel is used in structural work and in electroplating chiefly because it resists corrosion. Publishers often
have printing plates electroplated with nickel to enable them to withstand hard use (see Electroplating). Nickel peroxide, a nickel compound, forms the active material of the positive electrode in the Edison storage battery. Nickel is also used in the
nickel-cadmium storage battery.  An important use for nickel is to promote certain chemical reactions by catalysis.  The nickel itself is not changed in the process and can be used repeatedly.  Nickel is used as a catalyst in a process called hydrogenation.  The nickel causes some organic compounds to combine with hydrogen to form new compounds.
Hydrogenation produces solid vegetable oils for cooking. 

Nickel-iron alloys.  Perhaps the largest use for nickel is as an additive to cast iron and steel.  It makes iron more ductile (easily formed) and increases its resistance to corrosion.  Nickel also makes steel more resistant to impact. Manufacturers often use steel alloyed with nickel to make armor plate and machine parts.   Invar is an alloy of nickel, iron, and other metals. It is valued for meter scales and for pendulum rods.  Invar expands or contracts very little as its temperature changes.   Monel metal is an alloy of nickel and copper used in sheet-metal work.  It has an especially high resistance to corrosion. See Monel
metal.  Nickel silver, also called German silver, is a nickel alloy used in tableware. See Nickel silver. 

Mining nickel:  The chief mineral ore of nickel is pentlandite, a mixture of sulfur, iron, and nickel.  Other nickel ores include millerite and niccolite.   Russia is the world's leading producer of nickel. It produces about a fourth of the world total. Australia, Canada, Indonesia, and New Caledonia are also important nickel-producing areas.