The battery metal that was supposed to power Glencore's earnings has rapidly turned into a liability.

Glencore reported a 32% drop in first-half core profit on Wednesday, sending its shares to their lowest since late 2016.

After a 50% drop in prices this year, cobalt has turned toxic for Glencore.

The announcement that Glencore will close its Mutanda mine is expected to come as the company lays out an overhaul of its key African copper and cobalt business.

SK Innovation will purchase 100% of the battery-grade cobalt sulphate and nickel sulphate produced from Australian Mines' flagship Sconi project.

Big names like BHP and Glencore can't seem to agree on which metals will deliver the best long-term exposure to the developing global market.

Electric-car makers, battery makers, and consumer-technology companies have remained silent from the debate over deep-sea mining.

Three Indian state-run companies are to form a joint venture to buy mining assets overseas.