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Geometallurgy of cobalt ores: A review

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Dehaine, Quentin, Tijsseling, Laurens T., Glass, Hylke J., Törmänen, Tuomo, Butcher, Alan R.·2021·Minerals Engineering
DOI 10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106656
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Abstract

Cobalt (Co) is a transition metal featuring unique physical properties which makes its use critical for many high-tech applications such as high strength materials, magnets and most importantly, rechargeable batteries. The bulk of world cobalt output usually arises as a by-product of extracting other metals, mostly nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu), from a wide variety of deposit types mostly Cu-Co sediment-hosted deposits, but also Ni-Co laterites, Ni-Cu-Co sulphides or hydrothermal and volcanogenic deposits. Significant differences in ore properties (geochemistry, mineralogy, alteration and physical properties) exist between cobalt-containing deposits, as well as within a single deposit, which can host a range of ore types. Variability of cobalt ores makes it challenging to develop a single extraction or treatment process that will be able to accommodate all geometallurgical variation. Overall, there is a lack of fundamental knowledge on cobalt minerals and their processability. The recovery efficiency for cobalt is generally low, in particular for processes involving flotation and smelting, leading to significant cobalt losses to mine tailings or smelter slags. This paper starts by reviewing the main geometallurgical properties of cobalt ores, with a particular focus on ore mineralogy which exerts a significant control over ore processing behaviour and cobalt extraction, such as the oxidation state, i.e. oxide or sulphides which drives the selection of the processing route (leaching vs flotation), and the associated gangue mineralogy, which can affect acid consumption during leaching or flotation performance. The main processing routes and associated specific geometallurgical aspects of each deposit type are presented. The paper concludes on the future cobalt prospects, in terms of primary and secondary resources, cobalt processing and sustainable cobalt sourcing for which further research is needed.

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  • Sites in the DRC mine copper in exclusively stratiform sediment-hosted deposits and produce cobalt as a sellable by-product.

    “Sites in the DRC mine copper in exclusively stratiform sediment-hosted (SSH) deposits and produce cobalt as a sellable by-product33.”

    From Carbon footprint distributions of lithium-ion batteries and their materials (2024) · cites this paper as [33]

  • Cobalt recovery can benefit from the adoption of new leaching methods that maximize its recovery (e.g., cobalt recovery rate in the DRC varies from 36% to 77%, compared with 97% for copper).

    “Cobalt recovery can benefit from the adoption of new leaching methods that maximize its recovery (e.g., cobalt recovery rate in the DRC varies from 36% to 77%, compared with 97% for copper). 25,87”

    From Decarbonizing lithium-ion battery primary raw materials supply chain (2024) · cites this paper as [87]

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Authors
Dehaine, Q., Tijsseling, L. T., Glass, H. J., Törmänen, T., & Butcher, A. R.
Affiliations
  • Geological Survey of Finland (FI)
  • University of Exeter (GB)
Corresponding author
Dehaine, Quentin
ORCID
Venue
Minerals Engineering
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-01
Volume
160
Pages
106656
ISSN
0892-6875 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106656
OpenAlex
W3108951852
Cited by
265
References
155
Citations by year
2026: 46 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 64 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 1
FWCI
12.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Minerals Engineering (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Natural Environment Research Council
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Mineral Processing and Grinding
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Extraction and Separation Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Metal Extraction and Bioleaching
Keywords
cobalt ore, geometallurgy, cobalt extraction, ore mineralogy, cobalt oxidation state, cobalt sulfide, cobalt oxide, acid consumption, flotation, leaching, smelting, hydrothermal deposits, volcanogenic deposits, cobalt recycling

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