Cobalt

DEFINITION

A metal resembling nickel from which a range of pigments are made, most notably a deep, rich blue, derived from this mineral's oxide.Handle cobalt with extreme caution. Hazards associated with this element demand stringently clean handling procedures.WEAR A DUST MASK!Cobalt came to English from the German word Kobold, the name of a particular evil spirit, who some spoke of as a wicked goblin. German miners dreaded Kobold's presence, blaming it for ills associated with the extraction of cobalt from the earth. The miners blamed Kobold for all sorts of other mine disasters too. Accept this cautionary tale, that you and all for whom you care had best BEWARE the dangers of Kobold . . . er, cobalt. Examples: England, Lambeth, c. 1690, Pill Slab with the Arms of the Society of Apothecaries and the City of London, cobalt blue, tin-glazed earthenware (Delftware), 10 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches (26.99 x 24.45 cm), Los Angeles County Museum of Art. See coat of arms.