This compound will cake under prolonged storage conditions. Moderate to very hygroscopic. Very stable at room temperature. In general, cobalt metal is produced as a byproduct of copper mining.
Most cobalt comes from Central Africa.
Zaire and Zambia are leading producers. Availability has become a problem due to political problems in Central Africa. There is some cobalt produced in Canada. Cobalt is required in the diets of ruminants for the production of vitamin B-12.