A significant breakthrough has been made in the Chinese mainland’s quest for rare earth resources. The China Geological Survey (CGS) announced on Friday the discovery of a large rare earth deposit in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. This deposit is estimated to hold potential resources of 1.15 million tonnes.
Critical rare earth elements—including praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium—exceed 470,000 tonnes within this newfound deposit. These elements are essential for the development of high-tech industries, playing a pivotal role in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles.
The CGS, an institute under the Ministry of Natural Resources, highlighted that this deposit is a super-large ion-adsorption type of rare earth. This marks the first significant discovery of its kind since 1969, when a similar deposit was found in east China’s Jiangxi Province.
Experts believe that this discovery will significantly bolster China’s advantage in rare earth resources and strengthen the industrial chain. The availability of these key metals is expected to accelerate advancements in technology and innovation within the nation.
The rare earth elements found are crucial components in various high-tech applications, including renewable energy technologies, aerospace, and defense systems. With this new reservoir, China is poised to maintain and enhance its position as a leading supplier of these vital materials on the global stage.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
