Cobalt mining

Cobalt mining extracts cobalt-bearing ores, often as a by-product of copper or nickel mining. The metal is recovered from ore through processing and refining.

Cobaltite: A cobalt-arsenic sulfide mineral and an important source of cobalt. This mineral is one of the ores mined directly for cobalt.
Lithium-ion battery: A rechargeable battery that moves lithium ions between electrodes during charging and discharging. Battery cathodes account for a major and growing use of mined cobalt.
Artisanal mining: Small-scale mining carried out with limited mechanization, often by individuals or informal groups. Artisanal production supplies some cobalt and raises distinct safety and labor concerns.
Copperbelt: A mineral-rich region spanning southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and northern Zambia, known for copper and cobalt deposits. Its deposits make the region central to global cobalt mining.
Copper mining: The extraction of copper ores and their processing into copper metal. Many cobalt deposits are mined alongside copper, especially in Central Africa.
Cobalt-60: A radioactive cobalt isotope used in radiotherapy, sterilization, and industrial radiography. Mined cobalt can become feedstock for producing this widely used isotope.
Child labour in mining: The employment or exploitation of children in mining work, often in hazardous conditions. Reports from some cobalt-producing areas document child labor risks in artisanal supply chains.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Central African country that is the world's largest source of mined cobalt. Its industrial and artisanal mines supply most global cobalt production.
Nickel mining: The extraction and processing of nickel-bearing ores. Nickel mines supply cobalt as a secondary product in several regions.
Superalloy: A heat-resistant alloy designed to retain strength under demanding conditions. Cobalt from mines is used in alloys for turbines and other high-temperature equipment.

Linked from 8 pages