Abstract: Cobalt-rich crust is one of the most potentially valuable mineral resources. This article introduces the details in progress of the Co-rich crust research achieved in recent years. From the viewpoint of resources, the exploration region of Co-rich crust is enlarged significantly in recent years. Meanwhile, the Co-rich crust embedded below the sediments on seamounts is also found. Based on the geological and tectonic setting’s research, the genesis of Co-rich crust is interpreted to be related with the action of intense intraplate mantle plume. The thickness of the Co-rich crusts is also related with the types of basement rocks and with the weathering degree of the basement rocks. Due to the progress of modern analysis techniques, the research on the Co-rich crusts structures, mineral compositions and geochemistry has been deepened gradually. Especially on account of the microcosmic observation and test techniques and some new chronological methods, the research on resolution sections of the Co-rich crust has made great progress. Based on this, Co-rich crusts with lower growth rate and during the stage with no or few sediments are used to study the paleooceanographical features and the global changes Ten million years’scale changes of oceanic environment and the history of deposit gap can be reflected by studying the Co-rich crusts, which is impossible for the pelagic sediments．In the aspect of material source for the Co-rich crusts, the importance of the endogeneic materials from volcanoes, hydrothermal fluids, and low temperature water-basalt interactions etc, is gradually recognized. It is found that microbes play an important role in the formation of Co-rich crusts. Finally, the directions of future development in this aspect are forecasted in this paper.