IndexMundi Home

Cobalt: World Mine Production, By Country

Home > Minerals > Cobalt >

TABLE 8
COBALT: WORLD MINE PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1, 2
(Metric tons, cobalt content)
 
Country3   2002   2003   2004   2005   2006e  
Australiae, 4 6,800 r 7,300 r 7,000 r 7,200 r 7,400  
Botswana5 269 294 223 326 r 303 6
Brazil 1,099 1,097 1,236 1,225 r 1,200  
Canada7 5,148 4,327 5,060 5,767 r 6,976 p, 6
Chinae 1,000 700 1,260 2,100 r 2,300  
Congo (Kinshasa)e, 8 14,600 r 14,800 r 20,200 r 24,500 r 28,000  
Cuba9 3,442 3,274 3,554 3,768 r 3,800  
Kazakhstane, 10 300 300 300 300   300  
Morocco11 1,453 1,391 1,600 e 1,600 e 1,500  
New Caledonia12 2,780 r 2,602 r 2,726 r 1,769 r 1,900  
Norwaye, 11 100 -- -- -- --  
Russiae 4,600 4,800 4,700 5,000 5,100  
South Africae 520 400 460 400 400  
Zambiae, 13 10,000 11,300 10,000 9,300 8,000  
Zimbabwe14 99 79 59 281 r 290  
Total   52,200 r 52,700 r 58,400 r 63,500 r 67,500  
eEstimated. pPreliminary. rRevised. -- Zero.
1World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Table includes data available through June 18, 2007. Figures represent recoverable cobalt content of ores, concentrates, or intermediate
products from cobalt, copper, nickel, platinum, or zinc operations.
3In addition to the countries listed, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, Spain, and Turkey are known to produce ores that contain cobalt,
but information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of production. Other copper-, nickel-, platinum-, or zinc-producing nations may
also produce ores containing cobalt as a byproduct component, but recovery is small or nil.
4Cobalt content of lateritic nickel ore, nickel concentrate, and zinc concentrate originating in Australia. Quantities of cobalt contained in
intermediate or refined metallurgical products produced from Australian and imported ores, in metric tons, was estimated to be as follows:
2002�6,700; 2003�6,900; 2004�6,700; 2005�6,000; and 2006�6,900.
5Reported cobalt content of pelletized nickel-copper matte.
6Reported figure.
7Assay content of cobalt in concentrates produced. The cobalt content, in metric tons, of all products derived from ores of Canadian origins,
including cobalt oxide shipped to the United Kingdom for further processing and nickel-copper matte shipped to Norway for refining, was
reported to be as follows: 2002�2,065; 2003�1,842; 2004�2,085; 2005�2,391 (revised); and 2006�2,793.
8Cobalt content of concentrates, tailings, and slags.
9Determined from reported nickel-cobalt content of sulfide production.
10Estimated cobalt content of only those ores from which it is assumed cobalt is recovered. Cobalt content of total ores mined is assumed to be
1,400 metric tons (2002-06).
11Cobalt content of concentrates.
12Cobalt content of limonitic nickel laterite ores mined. Quantities of cobalt contained in intermediate or refined metallurgical products (cobalt
chloride and cobalt oxide hydroxide) produced from New Caledonian ores exported to Australia and France, in metric tons, was estimated to
be as follows: 2002�04�1,400; 2005�1,200; and 2006�1,500.
13Cobalt content of concentrates and slags.
14Cobalt content of intermediate products produced in Zimbabwe from ores originating in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program


Home | About | Search | Site Map