90 • Marine Minerals: Exploring Our New Ocean Frontier 



With 56 percent of cobalt imports originating 

 from Zaire and Zambia, which together produce 

 cilmost 70 percent of the world's supply of cobalt, 

 the U.S. supply of cobalt is concentrated in devel- 

 oping countries with uncertain political futures. For 

 example, the invasion of Shaba Province in Zaire 

 in 1977 and 1978 by anti-government guerrillas 

 caused some concern about the impact of political 

 instability on cobalt supply.' Abrupt increases in 

 market prices followed, driven more by market op- 

 portunists and fear of the consequences than from 

 direct interdiction of cobalt supply. Mining and 

 processing facilities were only briefly closed and the 

 impact on Zaire's production capacity was negli- 

 gible. '^ 



Domestic Resources and Reserves 



Cobalt is recovered as a byproduct of nickel, cop- 

 per, and, to a much lesser extent, platinum. Eco- 

 nomic deposits typically contain concentrations of 

 between 0. 1 and 2 percent cobalt. The U.S. reserve 

 base is large (950,000 tons of contained cobalt), but 

 there are currently no domestic reserves of cobalt. 

 Domestic cobalt resources are estimated at about 

 1.4 million tons (contained cobalt).^" 



The economics of cobalt recovery are linked more 

 with the market price of the associated major me- 

 tals (copper and nickel) than with the price of co- 

 balt. It is necessary, therefore, that the major me- 

 tals be economically recoverable to permit the 

 recovery of cobalt as a byproduct. As a result, the 

 price sensitivity of cobalt production is difficult to 

 forecast. Depressed prices for the base metals re- 

 duce the economic feasibility of recovering cobalt. 



Domestic land-based cobalt-bearing deposits are 

 likely not to be mined until some time in the fu- 



ture. However, in an emergency and with govern- 

 ment support, they could produce a significant 

 proportion of U.S. cobalt consumption for a short 

 time.^' In addition, cobalt-rich manganese crusts 

 in the Blake Plateau off the southeastern Atlantic 

 coast and crusts or pavements on seamounts in the 

 Pacific Ocean contain cobalt concentrations of be- 

 tween 0.3 and 1.6 percent (some ferromanganese 

 crust samples have been reported to contain up to 

 2.5 percent), along with nickel, managanese, and 

 other metals. These compare favorably with U.S. 

 land-based resources that range from 0.01 to about 

 0.55 percent cobalt. ^^ 



Future Demand and Technological Trends 



U.S. consumption generally accounts for about 

 35 percent of total world consumption. There is lit- 

 tle prospect for major reductions in cobalt demand 

 through substitution. Total U.S. demand for co- 

 balt in 2000 is forecast to be between 24 million 

 and 44 million pounds, with a probable demand 

 of 34 million pounds (table 3-2).^' Future demand 

 for cobalt is difficult to forecast. Both the intensity 

 of cobalt use and the amount of cobalt-based ma- 

 terials consumed have changed abruptly in the past 

 and will likely continue to change in the future. 



Chromium 

 Properties and Uses 



Chromium is used in iron and steel, nonferrous 

 metals, metal plating, pigments, leather process- 



"Kirk, "A Third Pricing Phase: Stability?," pp. 9, 12. 

 =°Kirk, "Cobalt," Mineral Commodity Summaries— 1987, p. 39. 



"G. Peterson, D. Bleiwas, and P. Thomas, Cobalt Availability- 

 Domestic, IC 8849 (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1981), 

 p. 27. 



'^C. Mishra, C. Sheng-Fogg, R. Christiansen, et al., Cobalt 

 Availability — Marliet Economy Countries, IC 9012 (Washington, DC: 

 U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1985), p. 10. 



"W. Kirk, "Cobalt," Mineral Facts and Problems — 1985 Edition, 

 Bulletin 675 (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1986), p. 180. 



Table 3-2.— Forecast of U.S. and World Cobalt Demand in 2000 



2000 



Actual Low Probable High 



(thousand pounds) 



15,000^ 24,000 34,000 44,000 



31,500 50,000 65,000 75,000 



— 74,000 99,000 120,000 



^U.S. data for 1986 from W. Kirk, "Cobalt," Mineral CommoAVy Summaries— (987 (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of lulines, 1987), p. 38. 



SOURCE: Adapted from W. Kirk, "Cobalt," Mineral Fads and Problems— 1985 Edition, Bulletin 675 (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Mines. 1986), p. 182. 



