Cobolt
Cobolt is a relatively common metal, although large deposits are rarely found in the northern hemisphere. The largest deposit found on the Imelian continent was on the island of Sudgylth . However, mining operations ceased in 1940. Since then Cobolt is almost exclusively, commercially mined and processed on the Borscan continent.
Cobolt
Cobolt is the earliest known and used metal along with iron and copper. It derives its name from Kobolts, a mythical race of cave dwelling creatures. This association occurred, because people would discover vibrant blue coloured cave paintings when prospecting for valuable metals and pretty soon this colour was called Kobolt blue. Over time it was discovered which ore was used to created this specific pigment and it was then named Cobolt, after the mythical race it was originally associated with.History & Usage
Everyday use
Originally Cobolt was used as a main ingredient for the production of blue pigment. However with the rise in popularity of the Tarnap plant, its usage fell into decline.
Nowadays it enjoys again quite a lot of popularity among artists, hobbyists and crafters. Cobolt blue is especially often used in the crafting of porcelain plates and cups.
Nowadays it enjoys again quite a lot of popularity among artists, hobbyists and crafters. Cobolt blue is especially often used in the crafting of porcelain plates and cups.
Industrial Use
When the Cobolt industry initially collapsed due to the exponential rise of Tarnap demand, it found a new resurgence in the production of drying oils, used for industrial painting.
In more recent times it has also seen increased demand for the production of Spark conductors.
Environmental Impact
Cobolt mining by itself has no higher or lower environmental impact than other mining activities. It is however the processing of it, that carries an extremely high impact.
When using cobolt as pigment, grinding it up to a powdery form is good enough. For more specific industrial uses, it needs to be in a pure state. Cobolt is however, mostly found in a chemically bound state and thus it needs to be extracted. This is done through a process called cobolt-washing.
Cobolt washing
Cobolt washing is the process used to extract cobolt from whatever ore it has been bound. The achieve this, the ore is submerged in an organo-acidic bath. For each gram of ore a Spark current of 14,3 Dbg is send through the organo-acidic bath. Cobolt will then be extracted from the ore and settle at the bottom of the bath and eventually filtered out. However the remaining organo-acidic liquid is severely toxic, but it can only be used in a few process cycles, before it has to be purged and renewed.
Direct exposure to the liquid can lead to chemical burns. When dissolved in salt water, it creates falmunide, which is incredibly dangerous when ingested. It is considered a mutagenic compound that in low doses can lead to development and birth defects in children and in very high concentration lead to cell degeneration within the body.
Due to the presence of falmunide deposits, it is to this day still forbidden, to sell or use fish caught near Sudgylth.
Cobolt washing is the process used to extract cobolt from whatever ore it has been bound. The achieve this, the ore is submerged in an organo-acidic bath. For each gram of ore a Spark current of 14,3 Dbg is send through the organo-acidic bath. Cobolt will then be extracted from the ore and settle at the bottom of the bath and eventually filtered out. However the remaining organo-acidic liquid is severely toxic, but it can only be used in a few process cycles, before it has to be purged and renewed.
Direct exposure to the liquid can lead to chemical burns. When dissolved in salt water, it creates falmunide, which is incredibly dangerous when ingested. It is considered a mutagenic compound that in low doses can lead to development and birth defects in children and in very high concentration lead to cell degeneration within the body.
Due to the presence of falmunide deposits, it is to this day still forbidden, to sell or use fish caught near Sudgylth.
Type
Ore/Mineral
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