Cobalt, the superhero of metals

[@Miningpastpresentfuture]

I am a recently retired metallurgical engineer specializing in mineral processing. I really enjoyed your video. I especially enjoy the mines site tour and ore mineralogy. Keep up the good work. People need to know where their metals and minerals come from.

[@med_pink]

Moroccan geology grad student here, just discovered your channel through your porphyry copper deposits video, and was pleasantly surprised that you also talk about minerals and metals involved in the energy transition. The Bou-Azzer mining district is very known and studied worldwide, and I am happy that we, as Moroccan geologists, are helping the world transition into renewable energy sources, with responsible and sustainable mining practices. Thanks for the very informative video, and hope you enjoyed your stay in Morocco.

[@ourmetallicearth]

Yes Bou Azzer is very interesting and important. I had a great time in Morocco, beautiful country and very friendly people :)

[@karhukivi]

Cobalt was found in the silver mines of the Erzgebirge ("Ore Mountains") in Saxony, Germany. It was used for making blue pigments as well as colouring glass. However, the ore was also a problem for the miners given its association with arsenic and hence named after the mythical and malicious elf "Kobald" who was supposed to haunt the mines.

[@CHANDAKATOTOBWE-g6b]

Great video Dr Torvela. I’m a student geologist at the University of Zambia and will be learning Economic Geology next year. I find your videos like the one on porphyry copper deposits to be an excellent precursor to the course and my career as a whole. I’ll be tuned to your channel for future videos.

[@ourmetallicearth]

Very glad you find them useful!

[@OzGeologyOfficial]

Thanks for making this. It was very interesting. Please keep it up!

[@krisgalusha9820]

I tend to be more of an Ite kind of guy but metallics are fascinating in their own right. Glad I found your channel.

[@cribbsprojects]

Keep up the great programming.

[@Moppup]

Thank you for this wonderful information.

[@choppering]

Very intressting and easiliy understandable. Thanks

[@stephenmundane]

Enjoyed that, thanks -- a very well produced video. Unfortunately the artisanal mines in the DRC were the source of 70 percent of worldwide cobalt mine production in 2022...

[@ourmetallicearth]

Thank you Stephen. Yes artisanal mining in the DRC is a massive problem from all sorts of viewpoints!

[@218philip]

It always seems that the areas that still use child labor are enabled by corrupt governments that are controlled by globalist elites.

[@1000000trs]

Another very interesting video. Thanks Dr Taija

[@williamarmstrong7199]

A great video full of good information and details. You really need a lepel mic to improve the quality of your vocal recording. That wod.greatly improve the clarity and professional image you want to develop.

[@ourmetallicearth]

Got that now :)

[@petevenuti7355]

Eventually we're going to have to recover most elements from things like sea water and waste products where they might be in very low parts per billion concentration, how do you sort out elements when you get to that situation?

[@whatabouttheearth]

DRC also has the majority of Bonobos, pretty much all of them in the world are south of the Congo River in the DCR, whereas most Chimpanzees are north of the River Congo. So when it comes to mineral acquisition and possible environmental destruction that is something very important to take into account. I never knew DCR had the majority of the earths cobalt production.

[@ourmetallicearth]

I agree, mining like any other industry has an environmental footprint but that footprint can be large or small, and it is largely down to governments to legislate and enforce that legislation in a way that ensures companies minimises the footprint. Many companies already do this voluntarily, regardless where they operate, but others need that legal incentive. In Congo and in many other places though, the problem with artisinal mining is the big one, not necessarily so much the company-operated mines. Again, the government is the one who needs to intervene to find a sustainable solution that keeps the adults at these artisinal mines at work but protects both their health and safety, and the environment, but unfortunately in DRC this seems to be quite far down the priority list.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Cobalt is interesting. In my part of the world I don't think cobalt is ever found with gold.

[@factchecker9358]

More risk taking for cobalt exploration is needed but the combination of anti-mining groups and hostile governments limit interest. Changing EV battery chemistry also raises the risk for investment.

[@blancothevanchannel]

There is another source of mineral sorting and sourcing. Meteorites bring all precious metals to this planet.

[@christiansmith-of7dt]

The agony of quitting at oppurtune times

[@wolkenbummler]

Thank you very much. I really like your presentations. I am bit surprised, that you are promoting this decarbonisation nonsense. Are you expected to do that due to you job? In case that you really belive that nonsense, have a look at the basics of molecular spectroscipy. You will be surprised. Anyway, all the rest of your videos ist phantasic.

[@TitaniusAnglesmith]

I may be a bit biased since I study energy transition, but there seems to be a strong correlation between well educated people and the endorsement of decarbonisation. Never met someone with a Phd who is against the concept; perhaps they advocate for different forms, but all seem to agree that it's vital

[@johnm2879]

Wear a mic!

[@lst141]

There will not be an energy transition in your life time.