China's mineral exploration investment rises for third year in a row

China's investment in the mineral exploration of oil and gas and non-oil and gas minerals both increased for three years in a row, with 124 deposits newly unearthed in 2023, according to the latest version of national mineral resources report issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources on October 15.

By the end of 2023, a total of 173 kinds of minerals had been found in China, including 13 kinds of energy minerals, 59 kinds of metallic minerals, 95 kinds of nonmetallic minerals, and six kinds of water and gas minerals. During 2023, important progresses were made in the exploration of strategic minerals such as coal, copper, gold, lithium and phosphorus.