Battery Age Minerals has staked additional claims to the west-northwest of its existing earn-in claims at the Bleiberg Zinc-Lead-Germanium Project in Austria.

It’s a timely decision, with China recently restricting imports of gallium and germanium – critical metals used in computer chips and semiconductors.

Germanium is also used in:

  • The production of fibre optics for telecommunications for data transmission;
  • Infrared optics for thermal imaging systems and night vision devices;
  • As a substrate material in certain types of solar cells; and
  • As catalysts in the production of various types of plastics and elastomers.

The new ground covers potential extensions of the historic mine, which was a major producer of zinc, lead and was one of the largest germanium producers in the world when in production.

Although not historically produced at Bleiberg, gallium mineralisation has also been identified in the historical workings.

Battery Age
Pic: New 100% staked claims identified in blue and existing earn-in claims shown in red.

Accelerating exploration at Bleiberg

Given its rich mining heritage and extensive mineralisation, the Bleiberg Earn-In was secured by Battery Age Minerals (ASX:BM8) as part of its relisting last year and represents a potentially very valuable critical minerals opportunity – particularly in light of recent developments with the Chinese Government announcing new restrictions and controls on germanium and gallium exports.

The plan going forward is to accelerate exploration activities in the coming months alongside ongoing work at its Falcon Lake Lithium Project in Canada.

“We are pleased to have secured additional ground adjacent to our existing Bleiberg zinc-lead-germanium project,” BM8 CEO Gerard O’Donovan said.

“Based on our early desktop studies and a site visit, we have identified additional prospective land which merited strategic expansion of our claims.

“We now look forward to progressing exploration activities over the coming months to evaluate the potential of this project for our shareholders.”

BM8 has moved swiftly to secure this expanded land position by pegging the additional exploration licences.

Documentation for the staking process has been submitted to the Austrian Mining Department with formal documentation anticipated within 6-8 weeks following internal processing.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Battery Age Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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