Concentration of cobalt, nickel, and other metals of potential economic importance in ferromanganese crusts

Description

Cobalt, the trace metal of greatest economic interest, can be up to 2 per cent, but usually averages 0.5 to 0.8 per cent by weight. Ferromanganese crusts contain, among other metals, the highest concentrations of the rare tellurium, which is used in the solar cell industry to produce thin-film photovoltaics – the best material for converting sunlight into electricity.