News: Suppliers
7 January 2026
Germanium Mining Corp joins US National Defense Industrial Association
Publicly traded mineral exploration company Germanium Mining Corp of Vancouver, BC, Canada has been accepted as a new member of the US National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), which supports collaboration across industry, government and academia to strengthen US national security and the defense industrial base. Germanium Mining Corp is already a member of the Nevada Mining Association.
“Becoming a member of NDIA reflects our commitment to aligning our critical minerals strategy with the priorities of national security, supply chain resilience, and responsible domestic resource development,” says CEO Mario Pezzente. “We look forward to engaging with NDIA’s membership, participating in constructive dialogue, and contributing to discussions that support secure and sustainable access to strategic materials. Our exploration team has been dispatched to the historical Azure Ridge mine in Nevada; USA and we will be providing an exploration update shortly.”
Membership in NDIA provides the company with access to defense-focused industry forums, policy discussions, technical working groups, and networking opportunities relevant to critical minerals, advanced materials, and supply chain security. Through its participation, the firm aims to remain informed on evolving defense requirements, regulatory considerations, and partnership opportunities that support the development of a resilient and secure USA.
Historical Azure Ridge Mine – Nevada
The Azure Ridge Historical Mine, formerly known as the Bonelli Mine, last reported production in 1918. Early development on the property includes five adits totaling about 377 feet in length, one shallow shaft about 11 feet deep, two open cuts, and ten surface pits. Since its brief period of historical production, the property has remained largely inactive.
The USBM, Western Field Operations Center, previously reported that the Azure Ridge deposit consists of fault-controlled, carbonate-hosted copper–zinc–lead–cobalt–germanium–gallium mineralization, interpreted as Kipushi-type (carbonate replacement) style mineralization. As part of a 1994 study conducted by the USGS and the USBM (https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1730e/report.pdf), a sampling program comprising 43 samples was completed at Azure Ridge. The results identified anomalous values of germanium, gallium, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and cobalt.
According to the study, mineralized rock was observed sporadically over an area about 5000 feet in length, with mineralized structures reaching thicknesses of up to about 9 feet in outcrop.
Reconnaissance and Maiden Exploration Program
The reconnaissance and maiden exploration program has been led by veteran geologist William ‘Bill’ Feyerabend CPG, and Amazona Enterprises is expected to consist of a short-duration field examination utilizing a small field team and appropriate equipment. The planned work is structured to address key geological questions related to host rock characteristics, structural controls and mineralizing processes, including those relevant to germanium–gallium-bearing systems, and to assist the company in refining its exploration strategy for this critical-minerals-focused project.
Germanium Mining Corp further plans to continue working with Amazona on the preparation of a planned NI 43-101 technical report and technical overview of the Azure Ridge historical mine. This work is expected to include a review of available historical information, regional- and property-scale geological context, and the results of planned field activities, with an emphasis on evaluating the property’s potential relevance within the North American critical minerals supply chain, including germanium and gallium.
Additionally, the company is evaluating future multi-agency submissions to relevant US federal and state authorities in connection with potential support programs focused on critical minerals development. These initiatives may include studies related to historical mine infrastructure, site conditions and the potential refurbishment of the Azure Ridge historical mine, subject to further technical evaluation, regulatory review and financing considerations.