[small Metal Summit] Di Juqing: germanium 40 years from now, global stock depletion is expected to be 120 tons in the next few years

SMM News: on May 24-26, at the "2018 small Metal Industry Summit" held in Nanning, Guangxi, Mr. Di Juqing, Project Manager of Guangdong leading dilute Materials Co., Ltd., discussed the main application market status and future development trend of germanium.

Di Juqing introduced the characteristics of germanium: germanium is a silver-white crystal, powder is dark blue, at room temperature, crystalline germanium is brittle, plasticity is very small. It has good semiconductor properties, such as high electron mobility and high hole mobility. Density: 5.35g/cm ö; melting point: 937.4 ℃; boiling point: 2830 ℃. Germanium is chemically stable and insoluble in water, hydrochloric acid and dilute caustic soda solution. Germanium does not work with hydrochloric acid and dilute sulfuric acid, but germanium dissolves slowly when concentrated sulfuric acid is heated. Germanium dissolves easily in nitric acid and Wang Shui. The interaction between alkali solution and germanium is very weak, but molten alkali can make germanium dissolve rapidly in air.

Germanium is a typical rare dispersed element, which contains about 7/1000000 in the earth's crust. It is generally distributed in minerals composed of other elements in a dispersed state, such as sulfide-containing lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au) deposits and certain coal mines.

Present situation of main Application Market of Germanium

The global germanium resources are relatively poor, the global proven germanium reserves are only 8600 tons, at the current rate of 8600 tons / year, the global stock of germanium will be exhausted in 40 years.

Germanium resources are very concentrated in the world, mainly in China, the United States and Russia. Among them, the country with the largest distribution of germanium resources is the United States, with reserves of 3870 tons. However, due to the main lead-zinc associated ore, the output of germanium is restricted by the output of lead and zinc, in fact, there is no potential for growth. China's germanium production accounts for 72% of the world's germanium production, ranking first in the world.

Di Juqing made an evaluation of germanium deposits:

Ge > 0.0008% hematite can be used as germanium ore

Comprehensive recovery and Utilization of Ge > 0.001% lead-Zinc Ore

Ge > 0.002% coal mine can be used as germanium ore

Among them, brown coal mine is the best germanium ore in the world at present.

About 35 germanium mineral sites have been identified in China, with reserves of about 3500 tons. Germanium resources in Yunnan Province account for 33.77% of the national reserves. although the reserves of Inner Mongolia are large, the taste is low and the exploitability is poor.

According to statistics, the annual output of germanium in China has been maintained at about 100 tons since 2008. Under China's integration of non-ferrous metals, germanium production is expected to be controlled at about 120 tons in the next few years.

Main producers of germanium: China, United States, Russia, Canada.

Major consumer of germanium: United States, Germany, Belgium.

Major importers of germanium: United States, Germany, Belgium.

Major exporter of germanium: China.

Distribution of germanium resources in China: