A Chinese research team has announced a groundbreaking discovery of a massive rare-earth deposit in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. This find, reported by the Global Times on Wednesday, is the largest ion-adsorption rare earth mine ever identified in China, estimated to contain around one million tons of rare-earth oxides.
The newly discovered deposit stands out due to its substantial size, shallow depth and high quality, which make it economically viable for development. Zhang Zuoheng, director of the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, emphasized the potential for expanding this discovery. “The location of the deposit near the borders of Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar offers opportunities for further exploration and collaboration with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partners,” Zhang noted.
The research team, led by Wang Xueqiu from the same institute, uncovered not only this extensive deposit in Honghe, Yunnan but also identified two large and one medium-sized deposits in other areas of Yunnan. Collectively, these findings amount to an estimated one million tons of rare earth oxides.
The team’s efforts included 260 drill tests conducted between 2008 and 2024, with 165 confirming valuable rare earth resources that meet industrial mining standards. The team has also advanced geochemical exploration techniques for rare earth elements, enhancing the efficiency and precision of resource evaluations.
This discovery comes amid a surge in demand for rare earth elements driven by the growth of new materials and new-energy products. In response, China has introduced new regulations on rare earth management, set to take effect on October 1. These regulations declare that rare earth resources are state-owned and will be subject to protective mining practices.
China’s strategy aims to promote high-quality development in the rare-earth industry, encouraging research and the application of new technologies, materials, and equipment. Rare earth elements, crucial for a range of industries including glass, electric vehicles, industrial robots, and aerospace, are often referred to as the “vitamins of industry” and the “mother of new materials.”
As the leading global producer of rare earths, China supplies over 70 percent of the world’s rare earths and holds about 40 percent of global reserves. The country’s rare earth exports are vital to numerous industries in the US, Japan, South Korea, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and over 70 other countries and regions.
