Mineralization characteristics and exploration progress of germanium resources in Chinese coal

NING Shuzheng; YAN Xiaoyun; HUANG Shaoqing; XU Xiaotao; ZHANG Jianqiang; ZHANG Li; LIU Kang

doi:10.12438/cst.2024-1772

Abstract：Germanium,as a typical scarce element and important strategic metal,is widely used in fields such as optoelectronics,semicon-ductors,and chemicals.The exploration and development of germanium resources are therefore of great significance.Under specific geo-logical processes,germanium can be highly enriched in coal,making coal an important source of germanium.In China,germanium-bear-ing coal resources are notably advantageous and are primarily distributed in regions such as Lincang in Yunnan,and the Wumuchang min-ing area in the Ulan Tuha and Yimin coalfields of Inner Mongolia.This paper analyzes the resource distribution and exploration status of germanium in Chinese coal,and,in conjunction with the analysis of typical coal germanium deposits both domestically and internationally,introduces the discovery processes of large to super-large coal-based germanium deposits.The paper summarizes exploration techniques and prospecting experiences for different types of coal germanium deposits.Germanium enrichment in typical Chinese coal deposits is closely related to geological processes such as hydrothermal activity and diagenesis.However,the occurrence and enrichment characterist-ics of germanium in coal show regional variations.Compared to coal seams,the distribution of germanium in coal is highly unstable.For the exploration of germanium-rich coal,drilling-based techniques have been established through years of exploration practice.However,further exploration is needed to improve the efficiency of germanium exploration in coal.In the future,innovations in techniques such as geochemical exploration,geological model construction,and resource evaluation are expected to promote the efficient exploration and de-velopment of germanium in coal,providing resource security for emerging industries.