open cast mining of nickel ore

....Compared to many open pit operations, Hanna Nickel used small shovels and trucks. I believe these we 75 ton trucks and the shovels were not very large compared to the iron ore oerations and coal operatons I had the prvilage to be associated with. The ore content was about 1% nickel and there were truck mounted analysis labs that tested the ore content of what was being mined. If "higher" grade ore was found in a pocket it was mixed with lower grade ore to allow a consistant product to be sent to the smelting operation at the bottom of the hill. ... source