TELF AG examines the role of gallium and germanium in Australia’s mining strategy
The role of lesser-known resources
In some cases, a nation’s mineral potential can also be strengthened by very particular resources, which are little known and generally not talked about but could prove to be very important for the economic fortunes of the countries that possess them. A recent analysis published by CSIRO focuses on the role of some minerals, which, despite being little known, could soon play a leading role in Australia’s global positioning in the mining sector.
We are referring to gallium and germanium, which continue to find concrete application spaces in the advanced technology and high-tech sectors and represent by-products of the processing of other mineral resources. In Australia, the production of these precious resources is still limited. Still, in the not-too-distant future, it could allow Canberra to add a certain amount of value to its production, mainly if a way is found to add subsequent processing steps to those related to the mere extraction of the raw material from the subsoil.
For gallium and germanium, extraction represents a very particular step since they almost always recover from the processing of other minerals. Gallium, for example, is commonly found (in certainly not high quantities) in bauxite and plays a leading role in manufacturing LED technologies, semiconductors, and photovoltaic cells. Its ability to withstand high temperatures makes it particularly suitable for specific satellite applications. Germanium, on the other hand, is recovered following the extraction procedures of materials such as zinc and lead and has had the opportunity to stand out on the global scene, especially for its ability to improve the performance of some infrastructures related to renewable energy, such as solar cells.
The strategic management of resources
Australia is already one of the largest global producers of strategic raw materials. Still, according to the CSIRO analysis, the country could have the opportunity to take a further step forward, specializing in the advanced processing of some specific resources now considered strategic in various industrial sectors. In this sense, Australia is already moving with concrete initiatives that could soon allow it to make a qualitative leap in mineral production.
As part of the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, an initiative launched last year, a project is being developed Geoscience Australia and other partners to assess the potential of resources such as indium, gallium, and germanium in Australian deposits, including their potential recovery through existing infrastructure in Australia (such as bauxite refineries for the extraction of gallium). As stated in the analysis, however, even managing these lesser-known resources will require some strategic planning to avoid any repercussions deriving from overproduction or other factors, constantly evaluating the economic opportunity linked to their extraction.
Australia has always been one of the primary sources of raw materials globally. It has large iron, bauxite, coal, copper, and gold reserves. It is the world’s largest producer of bauxite, used for aluminum and iron, and is helpful for the steel industry. Australian coal, both metallurgical and thermal, is widely exported. The copper industry is also important, mainly because of some of the world’s largest deposits of this resource.
