TITLE
Geology and Geochemistry of the Germanium Deposits in Mainland China
AUTHOR(S)
J. Z. Yin
ABSTRACT
Thanks to China’s unique geological settings, such as its location at the intersection of the Indian, Eurasian, and Pacific tectonic plates, it possesses a wealth of rare earth elements and rare metals, making it virtually unparalleled globally. In today’s society, where cutting-edge technologies heavily rely on various critical metals, this natural advantage is highly significant. However, for various reasons, the outside world is not fully aware of many of China’s dispersed metal resources. This paper introduces the uses and resource overview of germanium (Ge), one of many critical mineral resources in mainland China, and summarizes its spatial and temporal distribution within the country, classifying its industrial and genetic types, and discussing the geology and geochemistry of various associated/symbiotic Ge deposits. China has a wide variety of associated/symbiotic Ge deposits of various genesis, including endogenic igneous mesothermal-epithermal deposits, as well as skarn, porphyry, and volcanic deposits. There are also mixed igneous-aqueous hydrothermal deposits, such as volcanic-sedimentary deposits, formed by the combined effects of endogenic and exogenic geological processes. Of course, as a major coal-producing country, mainland China also possesses numerous organic and inorganic sedimentary associated/symbiotic Ge deposits, such as coal-type, phosphate-type, and bauxite-type deposits. These internal and external associated/symbiotic Ge deposits on the mainland are not completely isolated but rather mutually reinforcing. For example, organic coal-type Ge mineralization involves, to some extent, igneous magmatic activity, such as providing ore-forming materials.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.62252/NSS.2026.1039
PAGES: 686-709
How to cite this article
Yin, J. Z. 2026. Geology and Geochemistry of the Germanium Deposits in Mainland China. Naturalis Scientias, 3: 686-709. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62252/NSS.2026.1039. www.naturalisscientias.com.