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#           Germanium Statistics and Information      

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Statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and flow of the mineral commodity*germanium* 

Germanium is mainly a byproduct of zinc ore processing.  It is a hard, grayish-white element; it has a metallic luster and the same crystal structure as diamond; and it is brittle, like glass.  In addition, it is important to note that germanium is a semiconductor, with electrical properties between those of a metal and an insulator.  The development of the germanium transistor opened the door to countless applications of solid-state electronics.  From 1950 through the early 1970's, this area provided an increasing market for germanium, but then high purity silicon began replacing germanium in transistors, diodes, and rectifiers.   Meanwhile, demand for germanium in fiber optics communication networks, infrared night vision systems, and polymerization catalysts increased dramatically.  These end uses represented 85% of worldwide germanium consumption for 2000.  World germanium consumption has been greater than primary production in recent years, but releases of germanium from government stockpiles and increased recycling have provided adequate supply.  The yearend price for germanium in 2000 was $1,150 per kilogram.

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### **Annual Publications**

Mineral Commodity Summaries
                            - Germanium    PDF Format:       |  1996  |  1997  |  1998  |  1999  |  2000  |  2001  |  2002  |  2003  |  2004  |  2005  |  2006  |  2007  |  2008  |  2009  |  2010  |  2011  |  2012  | 2013  | 2014  | 2015  | 2016  | 2017  | 2018  |  2019  |  2020  |  2021  |  2022  |  2023  |  **2024**  |
                            - Appendixes

Minerals Yearbook
                            - Germanium    PDF Format:       |  1994  |  1995  |  1996  |  1997  |  1998  |  1999  |  2000  |  2001  |  2002  |  2003  |  2004  |  2005  |  2006  |  2007  |  2008  |  2009  |  2010  |  2011  |  2012  |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016  |  2017  |  2018  |  **2019**  |    XLS Format:       |  2002  |  2003  |  2004  |  2005  |  2006  |  2007  |  2008  |  2009  |  2010  |  2011  |  2012  |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016  |  2017  |  2018  |  **2019**  |  2020 tables-only release  |  **2021 tables-only release**  |  **2022 tables-only release**  |  **2023 tables-only release**  |
                            - Archive       |  1932-1993  |

### **Special Publications**

                            - Byproduct mineral commodities used for the production of photovoltaic cells  Circular 1365
                            - Critical Mineral Resources of the United States--Economic and Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply  Professional Paper 1802                               - Germanium 
                            - Critical Minerals Review 2021
                            - Germanium Recycling in the United States in 2000  Open-File Report 2005-1274
                            - Historical Statistics for Mineral and Material Commodities in the United States  Data Series 140                               - Germanium 
                            - Metal Prices in the United States through 2010  Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5188
                            - Mineral Commodity Profiles: Germanium  Open-File Report 2004-1218
                            - U.S. Mineral Dependence-Statistical Compilation of U.S. and World Mineral Production, Consumption, and Trade, 1990-2010  Open-File Report 2013-1184

### Contacts

#### Amy Tolcin

##### Mineral Commodity Specialist

National Minerals Information Center

atolcin@usgs.gov

703-648-4940