The demand for gallium has
increased significantly over the last few decades due to the expanding use of Ga
compounds in the electronics industry. Because it is widely dispersed and rarely
found naturally in concentrations greater than 0.1%, Ga is expensive
(approximately US$500/kg) and difficult to produce in large
quantities.

A previous study of metals in
geothermal systems reported significant quantities of Ga present in the muds on
the northeast margin of Lake Rotokawa, an acidic lake associated with a
high-temperature geothermal field situated in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New
Zealand. Similar muds are present in many other geothermal fields in the zone,
suggesting that geothermal muds could be a commercial source ofGa.