a16z Podcast: The Search for the Secret Metal that Powers All Our Devices

Key takeaways

Cobalt is essential for modern batteries, making it one of the most important metals in today's technological landscape.
The techniques and technologies used for mining and exploration have dramatically evolved, enabling better prediction and discovery of valuable metal deposits.
Current cobalt supply is insufficient to meet future demand, necessitating greater exploration efforts and innovative recovery methods.
Data science is transforming mining by integrating historical and modern data to provide insights into potential mining locations.
Ethical sourcing and environmental concerns surrounding cobalt mining require serious consideration as demand continues to rise.

Summary

The Importance of Cobalt in Modern Technology

In this episode, the panel discusses the sudden rise in demand for cobalt, a crucial metal in modern batteries. Historically, cobalt was used for dyes and high-strength steels, but its significance has now surged due to its application in lithium-ion batteries found in smartphones and electric vehicles. Listeners learn that each device contains around 10 grams of cobalt, while electric vehicles can contain 10-20 kilograms, highlighting cobalt's essential role in the modern energy landscape.

Evolution of Mining and Discovery Techniques

The discussion shifts to the historical context of mining, starting from ancient civilizations discovering metals like copper, progressing through the Industrial Revolution's technological advancements in mining. The guests explain how exploration techniques evolved since the 1950s with the advent of geophysics and plate tectonics, changing how miners understand and search for metals beneath the surface. This evolution has been marked by efforts to improve predictive measures for metal deposits.

Challenges in Cobalt Mining and Supply

Kurt House highlights the shift in cobalt sourcing, as past practices that relied on byproduct extraction from larger copper and nickel mines are no longer sufficient to meet today's skyrocketing demand. The team discusses the historical disregard for cobalt in mining decisions, which has led to 'garbage piles' now being reconsidered as valuable resources. They predict upcoming challenges in sourcing cobalt as known supplies may run out within the next decade.

The Role of Data Science in Cobalt Exploration

The podcast addresses the revolutionary role of data science in cobalt exploration. The importance of integrating diverse data sources—geophysical, geochemical, mineralogical, and even agricultural information—is emphasized. The guests stress the need for a new approach to mining that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify potential deposits and make predictions without human biases.

Ethical Concerns and Future Responsibilities in Mining

The conversation touches on the ethical ramifications of cobalt mining, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where two-thirds of the world's cobalt supply is sourced. The panel discusses issues such as child labor and environmental degradation associated with artisanal mining. They stress the importance of finding a balance between meeting global demands for battery metals and ensuring responsible mining practices.

Show notes

with Kurt House (@kurtzhouse), John Thompson, Connie Chan (@conniechan) and Hanne Tidnam (@omnivorousread)

The exploration for and mining of certain metals has driven huge epochs of human civilization, from copper and iron to gold and diamonds. In this conversation, Kurt House, CEO and co-founder of KoBold Metals; John Thompson, professor of earth and geosciences at Cornell and longtime advisor to the mining industry; and Connie Chan, general partner for consume, talk with Hanne Tidnam about why it is that cobalt is suddenly one of the most important metals on the planet.

Because this metal makes today's best batteries for phones, electric cars, and more, we have gone from little to enormous demand -- with that demand expected to only increase. This conversation covers the way technology is transforming how we find cobalt, and the mining industry as a whole. Along the way we touch on the science behind why exactly it is that cobalt is so damn good in batteries; what we know about what makes cobalt as a metal 'tick', where it's currently mined, and where it's most likely to be found; what data and knowledge used to drive mining; and what the new data sources, technologies, and techniques are today, from geophysical/ geochemical data, to agricultural information, to old boxes collected over centuries in the basements and attics of mining cos…. all of this to satisfy the incredible spike of demand for this material, as we enter a new age of battery metals.

Stay Updated:

Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube

Find a16z on X

Find a16z on LinkedIn

Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify

Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.