关键词: 钴矿资源；地质特征；资源分布；找矿潜力 

Abstract: Cobalt as a new energy material becomes a hot commodity in global exploration and investment as its demands are surging. Cobalt, rarely as an independent ore, coexists with copper, nickel and iron ore. Cobalt-bearing deposits can be classified as weathering laterite nickel\|cobalt deposit, sedimentary sand copper-cobalt deposit, magmatic copper-nickel-cobalt sulfides deposit and geothermal cobalt deposit. Cobalt resources are not even distributing globally; 80% of explored reserves are concentrating in Congo, Australia, Cuba, Zambia, Philippines, Canada and Russia. Much cobalt resources are hosted in the ocean floor. China is a big cobalt producer and consumer, but lacks cobalt resources with dependence upon exports. Central Africa, Oceania, northern Latin America, south-eastern Asia and North America are of big potential for cobalt exploration. China shall focus on such areas to acquire overseas high-quality cobalt resources so as to increase reserves and guarantee supplies. 

Key words: cobalt resources, geological features, resource distribution, exploration potential