Ares Strategic Mining Discovers Germanium in Utah Fluorspar Ore, Bolstering US Critical Mineral Supply

Ares Strategic Mining Inc. has confirmed the presence of germanium in addition to gallium within its fluorspar ore samples from the Spor Mountain Project in Utah, marking a significant development for North American critical mineral supply chains. The discovery, made through partnership with Iowa State University and Ames National Laboratory, identifies two strategic minerals that are currently dominated by Chinese production and essential for semiconductors, fiber optics, infrared optics, and solar cells.

Laboratory testing conducted under the guidance of ISU professors detected germanium (⁶⁹Ge) in two separate samples at concentrations of 0.15% and 0.05%, with low error margins confirmed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Seven samples underwent fine grinding and washing to remove surface impurities before analysis, demonstrating the presence of both germanium and gallium, which appear alongside the company's primary fluorspar resource.

James Walker, CEO of Ares Strategic Mining, emphasized the strategic importance of this discovery, stating that it "opens an exciting new strategic pathway for Ares" and aligns with the company's vision to "unlock additional critical mineral value from our deposits, further differentiating Ares as a leader in North America's mineral independence." Both minerals appear on the U.S. supply risk list, highlighting their importance to national security and technological advancement.

The company's next steps include continuing advanced laboratory characterization to quantify full germanium and gallium concentrations across additional batches, investigating commercial pathways to extract and recover these materials alongside fluorspar, and evaluating 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 discovery holds particular significance given germanium's extreme rarity and China's dominance in global production. Germanium's applications span critical technologies including semiconductor manufacturing, fiber optic communications, infrared optical systems, and photovoltaic cells for solar energy. The presence of both germanium and gallium within the same deposit could potentially streamline extraction processes and improve economic viability.

Ares Strategic Mining operates the fully permitted Lost Sheep Fluorspar Project in Utah's Spor Mountain area, comprising 5,982 acres with 353 claims. The project has received mining plan approval from the Bureau of Land Management, with initial approval dating to 1992 and renewal in 2016. The company's technical report has identified extensive high-grade fluorspar with low impurity levels, providing a solid foundation for potential critical mineral co-production.

This development comes at a time when the United States and other Western nations are actively seeking to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from Chinese dominance. The ability to domestically source germanium and gallium could significantly impact multiple industries, including technology manufacturing, renewable energy development, and national defense applications that rely on these strategically important materials.