Oxidation state and bonding environment of Ge and Cu in ZnS and Zn mineral concentrates from a variety of sources [Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Metaline mining district, (WA), and Red Dog mine (AK)] were determined by linear combination fits from x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis. Sphalerites from the East Tennessee mining district contained Ge in concentrations that were too low to generate a X-ray absorption spectra with an edge step. When applicable, Ge content in quartz was determined using XAS edge steps. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: Hayes SM, McAleer RJ, Piatak NM, White SJO, Seal RR II (2023), A novel nondestructive workflow for examining germanium and co-substituents in ZnS. Front. Earth Sci. 11:939700. doi: 10.3389/feart.2023.939700

Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite (ZnS) were collected on samples from current or past mining operations in the USA with a specific focus on germanium (Ge), a byproduct critical mineral recovered from sphalerite. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: Hayes SM, McAleer RJ, Piatak NM, White SJO, Seal RR II (2023), A novel nondestructive workflow for examining germanium and co-substituents in ZnS. Front. Earth Sci. 11:939700. doi: 10.3389/feart.2023.939700

Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite (ZnS) were collected on samples from current or past mining operations in the USA with a specific focus on germanium (Ge), a byproduct critical mineral recovered from sphalerite. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: Hayes SM, McAleer RJ, Piatak NM, White SJO, Seal RR II (2023), A novel nondestructive workflow for examining germanium and co-substituents in ZnS. Front. Earth Sci. 11:939700. doi: 10.3389/feart.2023.939700

Oxidation state and bonding environment of Ge in minerals within mine waste from sampled historical waste piles from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, U.S. were determined by linear combination fits from x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) analysis. Ge content in quartz within these wastes was determined using XANES edge steps, and Ge content in sphalerite was compared using XANES edge steps versus electron microprobe analyses. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: White, S.J.O., Piatak, N.M., McAleer, R.J., Hayes. S.M., Seal, R.R. II, Schaider, L.A., Shine, J.P. Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral, Applied Geochemistry, p. 105341, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105341.

Oxidation state and bonding environment of Ge in minerals within mine waste from sampled historical waste piles from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, U.S. were determined by linear combination fits from x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) analysis. Ge content in quartz within these wastes was determined using XANES edge steps, and Ge content in sphalerite was compared using XANES edge steps versus electron microprobe analyses. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: White, S.J.O., Piatak, N.M., McAleer, R.J., Hayes. S.M., Seal, R.R. II, Schaider, L.A., Shine, J.P. Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral, Applied Geochemistry, p. 105341, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105341.

Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite (ZnS) and hemimorphite (Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O) from sampled historical waste piles were conducted with a specific focus on germanium (Ge). In mine wastes at the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, USA, Ge is associated with ZnS (sphalerite) as expected, but weathering in the waste piles has led to a significant amount of Ge being incorporated into a zinc-silicate, hemimorphite. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: White, S.J.O., Piatak, N.M., McAleer, R.J., Hayes. S.M., Seal, R.R. II, Schaider, L.A., Shine, J.P. Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral"

Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite (ZnS) and hemimorphite (Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O) from sampled historical waste piles were conducted with a specific focus on germanium (Ge). In mine wastes at the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, USA, Ge is associated with ZnS (sphalerite) as expected, but weathering in the waste piles has led to a significant amount of Ge being incorporated into a zinc-silicate, hemimorphite. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: White, S.J.O., Piatak, N.M., McAleer, R.J., Hayes. S.M., Seal, R.R. II, Schaider, L.A., Shine, J.P. Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral"

This data release provides electron microprobe geochemical data that was collected as part of a scoping study to evaluate whether unconventional critical element resources may be associated with sediment-hosted copper systems in the Midcontinent Rift. We report abundances of trace elements in native copper and sulfide minerals in 12 thin sections from samples of the Mesoproterozoic lower Nonesuch Formation that were collected from underground exposures in the White Pine deposit. Approximately 350 spots were analyzed for Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni, Co, As, Sb, Ag, Hg, and S. The electron microprobe data were collected by personnel of the Central Region Minerals Program in Denver, Colorado, for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resources Program (MRP). An ASCII text file of results is provided in comma-separated by value (csv) format. The file has the name “White_Pine_EPMA_data.csv”.

This data release provides electron microprobe geochemical data that was collected as part of a scoping study to evaluate whether unconventional critical element resources may be associated with sediment-hosted copper systems in the Midcontinent Rift. We report abundances of trace elements in native copper and sulfide minerals in 12 thin sections from samples of the Mesoproterozoic lower Nonesuch Formation that were collected from underground exposures in the White Pine deposit. Approximately 350 spots were analyzed for Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni, Co, As, Sb, Ag, Hg, and S. The electron microprobe data were collected by personnel of the Central Region Minerals Program in Denver, Colorado, for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resources Program (MRP). An ASCII text file of results is provided in comma-separated by value (csv) format. The file has the name “White_Pine_EPMA_data.csv”.

This data release provides data for the single site in the United States (U.S.) that has public record of germanium (Ge) production. Germanium, which is currently classified as a critical mineral in the U.S., is also extracted as a byproduct from deposits in Alaska, Washington, and Tennessee. However, there is no public information that documents germanium production from these deposits. Current annual production of refined germanium is led by China at 85,000 tons, while estimates place U.S. reserves near 2,500 tons. Reported production of germanium in the U.S. is limited to one site, the Apex mine in Washington County, Utah. The Apex mine produced gallium (Ga) and germanium as primary products during the mid-1980s. Since its closure, germanium recovery has been restricted to refining processes of ore concentrates and recycling of waste scrap both in and outside the U.S. (U.S. Geological Survey, 2020). As a part of the process set forth by Executive Order 13817, the USGS National Minerals Information Center (NMIC) identified germanium as a critical mineral (Department of the Interior, 2018) due to the import reliance and importance in the sectors of defense, manufacturing, and telecommunications (Fortier and others, 2018). Germanium is used for strategic, consumer, and commercial applications due to its high refractive index, transparency to infrared light, and properties as a semiconductor. Most notably, germanium is a major component in infrared devices, fiber optic cables, and PET plastics (Melcher and Buchholz, 2014). As of 2019, the U.S. maintains greater than 50% reliance on imported germanium from countries such as Belgium and China who were the main U.S. suppliers between 2015–2018. Germanium is imported to the U.S. as germanium metal and dioxide for consumption (U.S. Geological Survey, 2020). Some germanium is recovered from recycling of scrap during the manufacturing process, such as the manufacture of fiber-optic cables (Mercer, 2015). The element germanium largely occurs as a geochemical substitute in various sulfide minerals, primarily in the mineral sphalerite (ZnS), with minor inclusion in silicate minerals. The greatest germanium concentrations occur in Kipushi-type deposits, principally in oxidation zones of sulfide ore (Höll and others, 2007). The largest past producers of germanium from Kipushi-type deposits occurred in Kipushi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tsumeb, Namibia. These deposits host 60 million tonnes (t) at 100–200 parts per million (ppm) Ge and 28 million t at 50–150 ppm Ge, respectively. Currently, germanium is produced as a byproduct of zinc-bearing ore deposits. Acid mine drainage may have elevated signatures of germanium because of germanium’s strong association to sulfide minerals (Shanks and others, 2017). Germanium is also recovered from lignite and coal deposits worldwide (Melcher and Buchholz, 2014). The entries and descriptions in the database were derived from published papers, reports, data, and internet documents representing a variety of sources, including geologic and exploration studies described in State, Federal, and industry reports. Production and resource information extracted from older sources might not be compliant with current rules and guidelines in minerals industry standards such as National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). The presence of a germanium mineral deposit in this database is not meant to imply that the deposit is currently economic. Inclusion of material in the database is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The authors welcome additional published information in order to continually update and refine this dataset. Department of the Interior, 2018, Final list of critical minerals 2018: Federal Register Notice 83 FR 23295, no. 97, p. 23295–23296, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-10667. Fortier, S.M., Nassar, N.T., Lederer, G.W., Brainard, J., Gambogi, J., and McCullough, E.A., 2018, Draft critical