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Cobalt is a metal that has a silvery appearance with a blue tinge, that is lustrous and highly magnetic. This chemical element has the symbol "Co."
Cobalt is a naturally-occurring element. That means it's found in soil, water, rocks, plants, and animals.
The majority of the world's cobalt resources are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, and Cuba.
Around 55% of the world's cobalt supply is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both underground and surface methods are employed to mine the element.
Areas that are home to cobalt and copper in DRC can also contain large amounts of uranium. In mining regions, scientists have noted high levels of radioactivity.
Cobalt catalyzation can also make other industrial processes more energy efficient. For example, it lowers the activation energy for the creation of polyester, reducing the greenhouse gas output.
Cobalt is an example of the mineral conundrum faced with the transition to renewable energy. Although it supports the transition, its mining poses environmental and social issues.
A Swedish chemist, George Brandy, discovered cobalt in 1739. It's usually recovered as a by-product of the process of mining other elements, such as copper, iron, or nickel.
In 2021, between 60-70% of the world's cobalt supply came from the DRC. While most is a by-product of copper mining, there is another source of cobalt: artisan miners.
Nickel and copper ores are treated by pyrometallurgical (using heat/high temperatures to extract and purify metals) and hydrometallurgical (using aqueous solutions) techniques.
According to the Cobalt Institute, 98% of the cobalt produced worldwide is mined as a by-product of copper and nickel. The seafloor also contains large cobalt deposits, but more research is needed to discover the best way to extract it.
Given the demand for cobalt-based batteries, both large-scale industrial mining and artisanal mining seems to be here to stay.
Small mines run by artisanal miners can be dangerous and polluting. The mining and refining processes are associated with a variety of health problems.
Before they're allowed to be sold, catalysts containing cobalt compounds are also used to reduce sulfur and nitrous oxide emissions from diesel and petrol cars.
The DRC is the main source of cobalt worldwide. However, the country suffers from political and economic instability, and, as a result, there is a high level of crime and civil unrest.
Accidents, overexertion, and exposure to toxic chemicals and gases are possible realities for workers in the wrong mining conditions.
Rising prices have triggered the growth of the cobalt market. The numbers of artisanal and small scale miners (particularly in the DRC) using limited technology have increased.
Artisanal miners hand-dig higher-grade ores than those extracted through industrial or mechanized production means. The artisan miners in DRC produce more cobalt than Russia, the world's second-largest producer of the mineral.
This commodity is used in numerous industries, as it has chemical, industrial, and military applications.
In 2020, a World Economic Forum (WEF) white paper outlined the current state of artisanal cobalt mining in the DRC and offered recommendations to make the industry fair and safer.
Due to its use in batteries, cobalt is an important component in the manufacture of electric vehicles. It is one of the key materials used in their production, along with nickel, copper, graphite, and manganese.
As one of the strongest permanent magnets, that is corrosion- and heat-resistant, it's a vital element for renewable wind power turbines.
It's also used in batteries and electronics, the smelting of alloy and steel, chemical engineering, medical devices, and even in art for a brilliant blue pigment.
Cobalt can be toxic when inhaled or ingested. It has a very potent, lab-created radioactive isotope (radiation emission).
Cobalt is not an especially rare commodity. However, innovations in the battery industry have seen its demand soar, as it's used to produce lithium-ion batteries.
As a result, the demand for cobalt is expected to double by 2030, as the demand for electric vehicles rises and is supported by government measures to encourage cleaner driving.
In the petroleum and chemical industries, cobalt is used as a catalyst to remove sulfur from oil. Again, this is not the only way cobalt is catalyzed.
During the pandemic, when demand for technological devices soared, the price of cobalt rose to a 10-year price high of US$53,000 per tonne.
As the cobalt conundrum continues, some companies are developing cobalt-free batteries for electric vehicles, which are proposed to be more sustainable alternatives.
Sources: (The Assay) (Yahoo Finance) (Earth.Org)
Intrigued? Click on to discover why cobalt has become such a valuable resource.
Why is cobalt such a valuable resource?
The demand for "blue gold" is high
LIFESTYLE Minerals
As the world looks at ways to transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, there are new challenges to overcome. Case in point: cobalt. This natural mineral is used in the production of lithium-ion batteries. Its value has soared in recent years, in response to higher demand for technological devices, and, in particular, electric vehicles. However, cobalt mining poses its own challenges.
Intrigued? Click on to discover why cobalt has become such a valuable resource.