Battery Age Minerals (ASX:BM8) has noted the existence of germanium grading up to 1,500 grams per tonne at its Bleiberg zinc-lead-germanium mine after a review of its historic sampling records initiated by the Austrian government.
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The find is significant, given such extraordinary grades that compare favourably to typical production thresholds for the commodity.
These are normally set between 100 and 300 g/t. Indeed, the presence of grades up to 1,500 g/t germanium suggests that Bleiberg’s mineralisation could now be considered “direct refinery grade.”
The mine, located in Carinthia, was the subject of an unpublished government-commissioned report published in 1991, which included detailed sampling and laboratory analysis of historical concentrates and ore material taken from the mine complex and adjacent deposits.
This news is particularly exciting given the need to secure critical minerals in the EU, and so BM8 is looking to the near-term development, commencing tailings sampling and metallurgical test work while also planning drilling.
Aiding this will also be the company’s engagement with potential strategic European downstream partners to progress Bleiberg as a secure source of critical minerals.
“Concentrate samples grading 1,200 to 1,500 g/t germanium are exceptionally rare,” CEO and managing director Nigel Broomham. “These grades are potentially sufficient for direct chemical refining by European refiners, which could allow the material to bypass conventional zinc smelting.”
Mr Broomham continued: “If confirmed, this would represent a meaningful advantage in terms of ESG performance and project economics – particularly given market conditions and geopolitical dynamics.”
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