Cobalt
Cobalt is found in meteorites and in ore deposits in Australia, Canada, Morocco and Zaire. It is the only metal found in vitamins necessary for human survival.
The metal cobalt was discovered by George Brandt in Sweden in 1735, although it was used as cobalt salts in the ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia and Egypt for giving glass a deep blue hue. Brandt had been trying to prove that the blue colour given to glass had in fact been caused by a new element, cobalt, rather than that of bismuth, that was often found in the same places at cobalt. In nature it is a silver grey colour and has magnetic properties much like that of iron. Its artificially produced isotope cobalt-60 is used in the sterilisation of medicine and foods. It is also invaluable to human existence as the only metal that exists in vitamins (vitamin B12). Cobalt is also used as a catalyst in many industrial processes.
Most Cobalt is Recovered as a Lead, Nickel or Copper By-Product
Although cobalt can be made in a laboratory, this is not necessary, as it is available commercially as many ores contain it. However, many of these ores are not economically important therefore cobalt is produced commercially as a by-product from the processing of lead, nickel and copper ores.
Cobalt has many uses, some of them are as follows:
Cutlery and jewelery is coated with cobalt with an electroplating technique to create hardness and give them a resistance to oxidation.
Porcelain enamel ground coats are made from cobalt.
Cobalt-57 is used in medicine to discover the amount of vitamin B12 in a person's body.
Cobalt-60 is used in medicine as its gamma rays are able to sterilise medical objects, food etc. and for measuring density.
Cobalt compounds are used in industry as catalysts to quicken chemical reactions such as in liquid fuels and polymers.
Cobalt can be added to alloys to create super-alloys. These super-alloys keep a stable temperature and therefor find wide use in gas turbines and jet engines. It is also used in the manufacturing of prosthetic joints, some false teeth and permanent magnets.
It is used to create certain colours in inks, varnishes and paints.
Lithium cobalt oxide is used in lithium batteries. It is also used in re-chargeable NiMH batteries.
Cobalt-59 can be used to create a nuclear bomb. The explosion would be relatively small but the surrounding area would remain radio-active for a considerable time.
Australia has Large Cobalt Mining Project at Mt Thirsty in Western Australia
Australia has the worlds fourth largest Cobalt ore deposit at the Mt Thirsty Cobalt Nickel Manganese mining project 20 kilometres northwest of Norseman in Western Australia. The Mt Thirsty Project has the potential to become one of the worlds top ten cobalt producers as it will have a capacity to produce 3,000 tonnes of cobalt a year during its first three years of production.
The Mt Thirsty deposit differs from other Western Australia deposits as it is completely oxidised and has a low clay content. This will facilitate the using of cheaper atmospheric leaching process that won't require more expensive and problem proned autoclaves. The ore body at Mt Thirsty can also be extracted without the need for blasting and most of it is shallow, no more than 15 metres below the surface.
Australian Mines that produce Bauxite
Gove (NT)
Up to 600 workers employed at the Gove bauxite refinery in the Northern Territory face an uncertain future as Pacific Aluminium suspends alumina production.
Ely (QLD)
The Ely Alcan Queensland Pty Ltd agreement at the Weipa bauxite mine is due to expire in 2041 but an option will give it a further 21 years extension.
Skardon River (QLD)
Gulf Alumina acquired 100 percent of the Skardon River tenement in 2011 from its koalin mining joint partner to develop the mining of bauxite at the site
Weipa (QLD)
The Weipa bauxite mine on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland is both owned and operated by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Huntly (WA)
The Huntly mine in Western Australia is the largest bauxite mine in the world currently producing about 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
Willowdale (WA)
The Willowdale bauxite mine that commenced production in 1984 still processes 10 million tonnes of bauxite a year at the nearby Wagerup Refinery.
Worsley (WA)
The Worsley bauxite mine and alumina refinery in South West Western Australia employs more than 1,800 people and produces 4.6 million tonnes of alumina annually.
South Aurukun (QLD)
The South Aurukun bauxite tenements on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland are held by Gulf Alumina.
Marchinbar Island (NSW)
The Marchinbar Island bauxite deposit in far north Northern Territory could be mined to satisfy a growing demand from China in the near future.
Kwinana Refinery (WA)
The Kwinana refinery in WA employs around 1,000 direct employees with 60 percent living in the nearby towns of Rockingham, Cockburn and Kwinana.
Wagerup Refinery (WA)
The Alcoa owned Wagerup alumina refinery in W.A. has received governmental approval to lift alumina production from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes annually.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (WA)
The Pinjarra alumina refinery, near Mandurah south of Perth, is an important part of Alcoa's three refinery system in Western Australia.
Portland Aluminium Smelter (VIC)
The Portland Aluminium smelter in western Victoria, a joint venture operation between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni, caters solely to the Asian market.
Felicitas (WA)
The Felicitas bauxite project in Western Australia contains a bauxite resource of 220 million tonnes that will give it a life of mine of 25 years
South Of Embley (QLD)
Despite Rio Tinto placing its South of Embley bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, on hold for 18 months it still considers it a 'good project.'
Bauxite Hills (QLD)
The Bauxite Hills Project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is hoping to take advantage of an expected increase in the demand for Alumina.
Bald Hill (TAS)
Australian Bauxite Limited's Bald Hill mine, in Tasmania, is to start production in December, 2014. It is the first new bauxite mine in Australia, for over 35 years.
Urquhart Point (QLD)
The Urquhart Point Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Cape York in Far North Queensland is expected to begin production in mid-2015.
Amrun (QLD)
The Amrun bauxite project in far north Queensland, that was previously known as the 'South of Embley' project has been approved for development and expected to be in production by 2019.
