Axel Fredrik Cronstedt

Baron Axel Fredrik Cronstedt (1722–1765) was a Swedish mineralogist and chemist renowned for discovering the element nickel in 1751 while analyzing the mineral kupfernickel as a mining expert with the Bureau of Mines. He is considered a founder of modern mineralogy for introducing the blowpipe as an analytical tool and proposing a chemical classification system for minerals in his 1758 book Försök til mineralogie, eller mineral-rikets upställning. Cronstedt also studied minerals like scheelite and zeolite, distinguishing between simple minerals and rocks.