246 



UNITED STATES MINERAL RESOURCES 



PROBLEMS AND NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL 

 RESEARCH 



Resource studies of minor byproduct metals are 

 limited by inadequate data. Although data have been 

 published on germanium production in recent years, 

 no production data are available for gallium and 

 indium. Specific identity of original sources of by- 

 product materials is not maintained for these three 

 metals. 



The data on geologic distribution of these trace 

 metals have not been systematically assembled ; 

 therefore, distributional patterns in individual de- 

 posits are not well known, and regional variations 

 have not been established. To the extent that com- 

 mercial recovery of these materials might be feasi- 

 ble from sources other than those currently being 

 exploited, much research is needed to establish the 

 natural distribution pattern. 



The most promising areas of research would seem 

 to be in studying the distribution of these trace 

 metals in zinc and copper ore deposits and in making 

 a systematic compilation of the metals' regional 

 variations. 



In the broader area of commercial recovery, there 

 appears to be significant concentration of these 

 metals that might be recovered in the processing of 

 other ores, particularly copper ores. Search for con- 

 centration of these metals in various smelting and 

 refining products of all metallic sulfide ores is 

 needed. 



SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 



Corey, R. C, Myers, J. W., Schwartz, C. H., Gibson, F. H., 

 and Colbassani, P. J., 1959, Occurrence and determina- 

 tion of germanium in coal ash from power plants: U.S. 

 Bur. Mines Bull. 575, 68 p. 



Fleischer, Michael, and Harder, J. 0., 1948, The occurrence 

 of germanium: U.S. (Jeol. Survey Trace Elements Inv. 

 Rept. TEI-7, 25 p. 



Goldschmidt, V. M., 1954, Geochemistry: Oxford. Clarendon 

 Press, 730 p. 



Gordon, Mackenzie, Jr., and Murata, K. J., 1952, Minor ele- 

 ments in Arkansas bauxite: Econ. Geology, v. 47, no. 



2, p. 169-179. 



Greenspoon, G. N., 1970, Indium, in Mineral facts and prob- 

 lems: U.S. Bur. Mines Bull. 650, p. 595-602. 



Harner, H. R., 1961, Germanium, hi Rare metals handbook 

 [2d ed.J : New York, Reinhold Pub. Corp., p. 188-197. 



Kaiser, E. P., Herring, B. F., and Rabbitt, J. C, 1954, Minor 

 elements in some rocks, ores, and mill and smelter prod- 

 ucts: U.S. Geol. Survey Trace Elements Inv. Rept. 

 TEI-415, 119 p. 



Mills, J. R., King, R. A., and White, C. E. T., 1961, Indium, 

 in Rare metals handbook [2d ed.] : New York, Reinhold 

 Pub. Corp., p. 220-238. 



Paone, J., 1970, Germanium, in Mineral facts and problems: 

 U.S. Bur. Mines Bull. 650, p. 563-571. 



Sclar, C. B., and Geier, B. H., 1957, Paragenetic relationships 

 of germanite and renierite from Tsumeb, Southwest 

 Africa: Econ. Geology, v. 52, p. 612-631. 



Shaw, D. M., 1957, The geochemistry of gallium, indium, 

 thallium — a review, I chap. 1 6 in Ahrens, L. H., and 

 others, eds.. Physics and chemistry of the earth: New 

 York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., v. 2, p. 164-211. 



Songina, O. A., 1970, Rare metals [3d ed.] (translated from 

 Russian by J. Schmorak) : Israel Program for Sci. 

 Translation, available from U.S. Dept. Commerce, NTIS 

 No. TT 70-50021, 442 p. 



Stadnichenko, T. M., Murata, K. J., Zubovic, Peter, and 

 Hufschmidt, E. L., 1953, Concentration of germanium 

 in the ash of American coals: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 

 272, 34 p. 



Stamper, J. W., 1970, Gallium, in Mineral facts and prob- 

 lems: U.S. Bur. Mines Bull. 650, p. 555-561. 



Thompson, A. P., 1961, Gallium, in Rare metals handbook 

 [2d ed.]: New York, Reinhold Pub. Corp., p. 178-187. 



Wedepohl, K. H., 1970, Germanium, in Wedepohl, K. H., ed.. 

 Handbook of geochemistry: Berlin, Springer- Verlag, v. 

 II-l, ch. 32. 



Zubovic, Peter, Sheffey, N. B., and Stadnichenko, Taisia, 

 1967, Distribution of minor elements in some coals in 

 the western and southwestern regions of the Interior 

 coal province: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1117-D, 33 p. 



Zubovic, Peter, Stadnichenko, Taisia, and Sheffey, N. B., 

 1961, Geochemistry of miner elements in coals of the 

 Northern Great Plains coal province: U.S. Geol. Survey 

 Bull. 1117-A, 58 p. 



1964, Distribution of minor elements in coal beds of 



the Eastern Interior region: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 

 1117-B, 41 p. 



1966, Distribution of minor elements in coal beds of 



the Appalachian region : U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1117- 

 C, 37 p. 



