Gold Reserves Discovered in Northwest China

In northwest China's Qinghai Province, a significant gold find has been announced by local researchers.  The discovery, located along the northern and southern edges of the Qaidam Basin, adds an estimated 43.2 tons of gold resources, with a value exceeding 20 billion yuan ($2.77 billion).  This marks a substantial milestone in the region's gold exploration efforts, potentially leading to the formation of a major gold deposit.

The finding, a result of the province's extensive resource exploration project, unveils the presence of a deep-seated gold enrichment zone that is now primed for immediate exploitation, which could significantly enhance local employment opportunities.

The newly discovered gold deposit lies on the edges of the Qaidam Basin and is part of the renowned Tanjianshan Gold Mine and the Wulonggou Gold Mine, which are among the largest gold deposits in Qinghai.  These sites serve as integrated research, exploration, and development centers.

The Qaidam Basin, often referred to as China's "Treasure Bowl," is a significant hub for energy and mineral resources in the country.  This discovery is the first time that Qinghai Province has identified a secondary ore enrichment zone within large-scale gold mines, suggesting the area's immense potential for hosting a world-class gold deposit.  This is expected to benefit the mining industry, stimulate production capacity growth, and boost local employment, as reported by Chinanews.com.cn.

China has intensified its investment in mineral resource exploration during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) to enhance reserves and production.  In the previous year, investment in such exploration activities surged by 8 percent to reach 110.5 billion yuan, leading to increased reserves of strategic resources including oil, natural gas, rare earth elements, and gold.

These initiatives have enhanced resource sustainability while driving continued growth in mining industry investment and output, according to a recent statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Qinghai Province, a mineral resource powerhouse, has established 346 gold mining sites, with the massive Dachang Gold Mine in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture boasting reserves of 108.63 tons, as reported by Chinanews.com.cn.