Ares Strategic Mining Discovers Germanium in Utah Fluorspar Ore, Bolstering U.S. Critical Mineral Supply
Ares Strategic Mining's discovery of germanium alongside gallium in its Utah fluorspar ore enhances North American supply chain security for these critical minerals, reducing reliance on foreign sources.
Ares Strategic Mining Inc. has confirmed the presence of germanium in addition to gallium within fluorspar ore samples from its Spor Mountain Project in Utah, marking a significant development for domestic critical mineral supply. The discovery, made through partnership with Iowa State University and Ames National Laboratory, was confirmed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) testing, with germanium detected at concentrations of 0.15% and 0.05% in two separate samples.
Germanium is vital for semiconductors, fiber optics, infrared optics, and solar cells, and is extremely rare with global production dominated by China. Both germanium and gallium appear on the U.S. supply risk list, making their domestic discovery strategically important for reducing foreign dependence. CEO James Walker stated this breakthrough aligns with the company's vision to unlock additional critical mineral value from its deposits and strengthen North America's mineral independence.
With proof-of-concept testing complete, Ares will continue advanced laboratory characterization to quantify full germanium and gallium concentrations across additional batches. The company will investigate commercial pathways to extract and recover these materials alongside fluorspar production and evaluate potential economic co-products and vertical integration opportunities. This initiative forms part of Ares' broader commitment to maximizing resource value and contributing to domestic supply chain resiliency for critical materials.
The Spor Mountain Project, located approximately 214 km southwest of Salt Lake City, comprises 5,982 acres with 353 claims and is fully permitted for mining operations. A NI 43-101 Technical Report previously identified extensive high-grade fluorspar with low impurity levels, though the company notes that mineral projects involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and forward-looking statements are subject to various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations.