The problem is that in the slag nickel is mainly in the form of oxides and not sulfides as would be the case in sulfide ore bodies. Oxides have no fuel value so they can not easily get heated. Yes, there has been companies trying to recover nickel from such slags and probably today with high nickel prices it may actually be economic, but just barely. On the positive side we should not forget that the total tonnage of slag is much less than the total tonnage of nickel ore or even nickel concentrate, so the total amount of nickel lost his way is managable for Inco.