China has announced a groundbreaking discovery of high-purity quartz ore, a mineral crucial for the production of semiconductors and photovoltaic technologies. This find is poised to reduce China’s reliance on imports and propel the development of its tech industries.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) revealed that the high-purity quartz ore contains silicon dioxide with a purity of at least 99.995 percent. This meets the stringent requirements for advanced applications, ensuring minimal impurities and inclusions.
Through a strategic mineral exploration initiative, China has identified multiple deposits of this valuable mineral in regions including the eastern Qinling Mountains in Henan Province and Altay in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Numerous enterprises and research institutions have already embarked on technological research and development. They’ve successfully produced pilot products with purity levels of 4N5 and above, with some samples reaching an impressive 4N8 purity level.
Mao Jingwen, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, highlighted the significance of this discovery. \”High-purity quartz ore is a strategic and globally scarce resource,\” he said. \”It possesses exceptional properties like heat and corrosion resistance, low thermal expansion, high insulation, and excellent light transmission.\”
For years, China has depended on imports to meet its demand for high-purity quartz. This discovery is expected to strengthen the resilience and security of China’s industrial supply chains and enhance its position in high-tech competition.
According to Huang Xuexiong, director of the Department of Mineral Resources Protection and Supervision at the MNR, a comprehensive national resource survey and evaluation will be carried out. Key exploration projects will be deployed to clarify the reserves of high-purity quartz ore and bolster domestic resource security.
This breakthrough marks significant progress in the industrialization of high-purity quartz sand production using domestic resources. It’s a vital step toward self-sufficiency in strategic emerging industries and promises a brighter future for China’s technological advancement.
