Q7 · UPSC Prelims 2023 · Set A · Geography

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About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by

A Argentina
B Botswana
C The Democratic Republic of the Congo
D Kazakhstan

Correct answer: (c) The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Explanation

  1. A

    Argentina

    Argentina. Lithium and copper stories, not three-fourths of cobalt.

  2. B

    Botswana

    Botswana. Diamonds; not the cobalt giant.

  3. C

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo. About three-quarters of mined cobalt.

  4. D

    Kazakhstan

    Kazakhstan. Uranium and other metals, not this cobalt share.

Summary. Official key is (c) the DRC. Artisanal and industrial mines in Katanga supply most of the world’s cobalt, the metal that stabilises many lithium-ion cathodes. Argentina, Botswana and Kazakhstan are the wrong mineral maps.