R Recently we explored a cobalt mine in Cobalt, Connecticut, that has a history steeped in legends dating back to the 1600s. The exploration was undertaken with an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) due to the mine’s inaccessibility.

The mine is historically linked to Connecticut’s early Governor and Alchemist, John Winthrop Jr, who was believed to have mined gold there and cast it into gold rings. However, the authenticity of these tales is questioned in the text. It is suggested that the stories might have been influenced by similar legends from European colonies and Winthrop’s known penchant for wearing multiple rings.

A century later, the mine was worked by a German named Dr. Sebastian Stephanie, who later sold it to a partner, Urkelens. Urkelens successfully extracted significant amounts of cobalt ore, highly valued for its use in blue glazes for Chinese pottery. The exploration with the ROV revealed a section of the mine that had collapsed, likely due to abandonment and deterioration. The ROV also encountered stalactites formed from iron oxide or carbonate and navigated through passages filled with silt.

The exploration provided a unique glimpse into the mine, revealing scenes and features that had not been witnessed by human eyes in over a century. It also shed light on the mine’s complex history and the people associated with it over the years.