Cobalt

What was discovered

Brandt showed that the blue colour of certain glasses was due to a new metal, not bismuth, isolating it from 'kobold' ores.

The name comes from 'kobolds', goblins that miners blamed for worthless ores.

What it led to

• The first metal discovered in historical times by an identifiable person
• Cobalt blue pigments and enamel
• Superalloys and cobalt batteries

Built on

• Medieval cobalt-blue glass
• Metallurgical assays

Made possible

• Superalloys for turbines
• Cobalt cathode in batteries

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