By Shane Lasley
Mining News
Fiber-optics, solar drive germanium demand
Vital optics metal already a byproduct of mining Red Dog zinc
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Last updated 6/22/2020 at 11:03am
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The high-efficiency of the germanium infused solar cells make them preferred for space applications such as on these panels powering the International Space Station.
In addition to being a past producer and a future source of most of the 35 minerals and metals considered critical to the United States, Alaska currently contributes a globally significant amount of one of these vital metals – germanium.
While not a widely known metal, germanium has optical qualities that make it an important ingredient in fiber-optics, infrared optics, electronics and solar...
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