(TibetanReview.net, Apr08’24) — The occupied territories of East Turkestan (Xinjiang) and Tibet have yielded for the Communist Party of China state enormous, world-class deposits of oil, gas, and all sorts of minerals, including gold, lithium, copper, iron, and rare earth minerals. Most recently, Chinese researchers have announced a new gold discovery on the north and south edges of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province, which constitutes the bulk of Tibet’s historical northeastern province of Amdo (or Domey), with an additional 43.2 tons of gold resources.
The discovery marks a significant breakthrough in the area’s gold exploration and its potential for forming a world-class gold deposit, reported China’s official globaltimes.cn Apr 8.
The new gold discovery has an estimated value of more than 20 billion yuan ($2.77 billion), the report said citing the Science of Technology Department of Qinghai Province.
Exploitation will begin at once as China expects more deposit discoveries. As the latest achievement in the province’s large-scale resource exploration project, the discovery reveals for the first time the deep-seated gold enrichment zone in the area, which is poised for immediate exploitation and boost local employment, the report said.
The discovery is part of the Tanjianshan Gold Mine and the Wulonggou Gold Mine, which are notable large-scale gold deposits in Qinghai Province, serving as sites that integrate research, exploration, and development, the report said.
Highlighting the Qaidam Basin’s reputation as China’s “Treasure Bowl”, the report said the Qaidam Basin stands as one of China’s significant hubs for energy and mineral resources.
The new finding revealed Qinghai Province’s first discovery of a secondary ore enrichment zone in large gold mines, indicating the area’s potential for forming a world-class gold deposit, set to benefit mining businesses, boosting their production capacities and local employment, the report said, citing Chinanews.com.cn.
As a prominent province boasting a concentration of vital mineral resources, Qinghai has established 346 gold mining sites, with the largest Dachang Gold Mine located in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, holding reserves equal to 108.63 tons, the report added.