Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1881 — WHAT IS NICKEL? [ARTICLE]

WHAT IS NICKEL?

l*e Material Out as Wktek Ou* five- , Ceat Cate is Maia. Since the convenientflve-cent coin which, in common talk, to called “a nickel,” has come into general circulation, the question above to asked either mentally or orally hundreds of times every day, and but few get an intelligent answer. In China and India, a white copper, called pack tong, has long been known, and has been extensively used both there and in Europe for counterfeiting silver coin. About the year 1700 a peculiar ore was discovered in the copper mines of Saxony, which had the appearance of being very rich, but in smelting it yielded no copper, and the miners called it kupfer-neckel, or false copper. Constadt announced the discovery of a new metal in kupfer-neckel. to which he gave the name of nickel. It was in combination with arsenic, from which he could relieve it only in parts. The alloy of nickel and arsenic which he obtained was white, brittle and very hard, and had a melting point nearly as high as cast iron. It was not until the year 1828 that pure nickel was obtained by analysis of German silver, which had for a number of years been produced at Suhl, in Saxony. Its composition was ascents in ed to.be copper ten parts, zinc five, nickel 4. If more nickel be used the alloy is as white as silver and susceptible of a very high polish, but becomes too brittle and hard to be hammered or rolled, and can be worked only by casting. Pure nickel to a white metal which tarnishes readily in the air. Unlike silver, it is not acted on by the vapor of sulphur, and even the strong mineral acids attract it but slightly. Nickel has the hardness es iron, and like it, has strong magnetic properties, but cannot be welded and is soldered with difficulty. Pure nickel has heretofore been used chiefly for plating, for which purpose its hardness and power to resist atmospheric influences admirably adapt it. Within the last year the French have succeeded in rolling the metal into plates, from which spoons and other table furniture may be pressed. Nickel bronze, which consists of equal parte of copoer and nickel, with a little tin, may be cast into very delicate forms, and is susceptible of a high polish. Mines of nickel are worked at Chatham, Conn., and Lancaster, Penn., and it to said to be found at Mine La Motte, Mo., and at several points in Colorado and New Mexico, where but little attention is paid to it It is extensively mined in Saxony and Bweder 1 »»♦ Ute late discovery of a newo cate of nickel) in New Caled<>~ 1 probably suspend the use >f rsenical ores, and yet brii ' ui into common use. Switz .I •• ,in the year 1852, made a coin o> German silver, which is indentical in composition with our nickel coin. The United States made nickel cents in 1856, and eight years later coined the five cent pieces. Belgium adopted nickel coinage in 1860, and Germany in 1873. England has lately coined pennies for Jamaca; but at home she and France adhere to the clumsy copper small change.