PURPOSE: To recover pure Ge from Ge-contg. rock in high yields by treating the finely ground Ge-rock with acids and alkalis, removing silicic acids and metallic hydroxides, subjecting the filtrate thereof to an ion exchange treatment then eluting Ge with an NaOH soln.

CONSTITUTION: Nitric acid, hydrogen fluoride and sulfuric acid are added to finely ground weathered rock such as igneous rock contg. Ge and these are gently heated, then silicic acids are thoroughly removed. NaOH is added to such soln. to control pH to 7.0, and to precipitate hydroxides of such as iron and Al. The filtrate separated from such precipitates is passed through an anion exchange resin column of OH type or the like, whereby Ge is adsorbed. After the resin column is washed with distilled water, an aq. NaOH soln. is flowed to elute Ge. According to this method, Ge is recovered industrially with high purity and high yield from the Ge-contg. rock.