Cobalt what is it? Why is it important to know about it?

 Cobalt

The chemical element cobalt has the symbol Co atomic number 27 on the periodic chart. Cobalt can only be found in Earth's crust in chemically combined form, with the exception of small deposits found in alloys of natural meteoric iron. As a result of reductive smelting, the free element is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal.

The element is primarily found as a by-product of copper and nickel mining, but can also be found in a number of metallic-lustered ores, including cobaltite (CoAsS). Copperbelt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia produce most of the world's cobalt. In 2016, the world produced 116,000 tonnes (14,000 long tons; 128,000 short tons) (according to Natural Resources Canada), with the DRC accounting for more than 50%.

Cobalt Uses

This metal is primarily used in lithium ion batteries and in the manufacture of magnetic, wear-resistant, and high-strength alloys. Cobalt silicate and cobalt (II) aluminate (CoAl2O4, cobalt blue) are the compounds which give glass, ceramics, inks, paints, and varnishes their distinctive hue. It exists naturally as one stable isotope, cobalt-59, and a radioactive isotope, cobalt-60, which is used as a radioactive tracer and for the production of high-energy gamma rays.

A group of coenzymes called cobalamins contain cobalt as the active center. An example of this type of vitamin is vitamin B12, which is essential for all animals. Additionally, cobalt in its inorganic form serves as a micronutrient for bacteria, algae, and fungi.

Why we need to know?

Well apparently according to New York Times we are in an arms race with China essentially a new Cold war and a race to the future that the U.S. has yet to enter. However, some American politicians are well aware of this venture and has decided to help themselves without preparing the country.

Hunter Biden, The President's son was part owner of a venture that bought a cobalt deposit for $3.8 billion through a Chinese conglomerate. The metal is a key element in batteries used in electric vehicles. 

A Chinese company purchased one of the world's richest cobalt mines from an American company (Located in DRC) where Hunter Biden, founding board member, helped to expedite venture.

Hunter Biden and two other Americans joined Chinese partners to establish the firm in 2013, known as Bohai Harvest RST (Shanghai) Equity Investment Fund Management Company. 

All three Americans on the board controlled 30 percent of BHR, a private equity firm registered in Shanghai that makes investments and then sells them for a profit. Records filed with Chinese regulators indicate that the remainder of the company is owned or controlled by Chinese investors, including the Bank of China. BHR's first deal was to help finance a coal mining company controlled by a Chinese state-owned firm.

One of the company's most successful investments came in 2016, when it bought and later sold a stake in CATL, (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) a fast-growing Chinese company that is now the world's biggest maker of batteries for electric vehicles. 

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