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Cobalt Statistics and Information
Cobalt (Co) is a metal used in numerous diverse commercial, industrial, and military applications, many of which are strategic and critical. On a global basis, the leading use of cobalt is in rechargeable battery electrodes. Superalloys, which are used to make parts for gas turbine engines, are another major use for cobalt. Cobalt is also used to make airbags in automobiles; catalysts for the petroleum and chemical industries; cemented carbides (also called hardmetals) and diamond tools; corrosion- and wear-resistant alloys; drying agents for paints, varnishes, and inks; dyes and pigments; ground coats for porcelain enamels; high-speed steels; magnetic recording media; magnets; and steel-belted radial tires.
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Mineral Commodity Summaries
PDF Format:
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |2013 |2014 |2015 |2016 |2017 |2018 | 2019 |
| 1994 | 1994 (figures) | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
XLS Format:
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 tables-only release |
| 1932-1993 |
Recycling-Metals
2019: | Jan | Feb | Mar |
2018: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
XLSX Format:
China's Domestic and Foreign Influence in the Global Cobalt Supply Chain
Resources Policy, August 2019
Cobalt Deposits in the United States
USGD Data Release
Cobalt-For Strength and Color
Fact Sheet 2011-3081
Co-Cu-Au Deposits in Metasedimentary Rocks-A Preliminary Report
Open-File Report 2010-1212
Cobalt Mineral Exploration and Supply From 1995 Through 2013
Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5084
Critical Mineral Resources of the United States--Economic and Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply
Professional Paper 1802
Factors that Influence the Price of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Rare Earth Elements, and Zn
Flow Studies for Recycling Metal Commodities in the United States
C-1196-A-M
Historical Statistics for Mineral and Material Commodities in the United States
Data Series 140
Global Trends Affecting the Supply Security of Cobalt
Mining Engineering Magazine, December 2017
Magmatic Sulfide-Rich Nickel-Copper Deposits Related to Picrite and (or) Tholeiitic Basalt Dike-Sill Complexes-A Preliminary Deposit Model
Material Use in the United States-Selected Case Studies for Cadmium, Cobalt, Lithium, and Nickel in Rechargeable Batteries
The Materials Flow of Cobalt in the United States
U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 9350
Metal Prices in the United States through 2010
Ni-Co Laterite Deposits of the World-Database and Grade and Tonnage Models
Review of selected global mineral industries in 2011 and an outlook to 2017
Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits of the World-Deposit Models and Database
Open-File Report 03-107
Statistical Compendium
U.S. and Global Cobalt Statistics and Information from the USGS National Minerals Information Center
Presentation given at the CDI Cobalt Conference 2015 -- Toronto, Ontario, Canada 20-21 May 2015
U.S. Mineral Dependence-Statistical Compilation of U.S. and World Mineral Production, Consumption, and Trade, 1990-2010
Other Sources of Information
Recycled Metals in the United States: A Sustainable Resource. Bureau of Mines Special Publication, 1993, 76 pp.
Chemical Industry Applications of Industrial Minerals and Metals. Bureau of Mines Special Publication, 1993, 158 pp.
Metal Prices in the United States through 1991. Bureau of Mines Special Publication, 1993, 201 pp.
Cobalt Institute
Kim Shedd
Mineral Commodity Specialist
Email: kshedd@usgs.gov