China unearths more than 120 mineral deposits in 2023

A total of 124 mineral deposits were newly discovered in China in 2023, at the end of which a total of 173 kinds of minerals had been found in the country, according to a report titled "China Mineral Resources 2024" released by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

As of the end of 2023, China's coal reserves increased by 5.6% from late 2022, and the recoverable proven reserves of oil and natural gas rose by 1.2% and 2.6% respectively from a year ago.

In terms of metal ores and minerals, by the end of 2023, China's iron ore reserves increased by 4.1%, vanadium ore reserves increased by 40.2%, lead ore reserves rose by 13.8%, zinc ore reserves rose 30.1%, bauxite reserves increased by 4.7%, tin ore reserves increased by 16.9%, molybdenum ore reserves increased by 32.3%, antimony ore reserves increased by 24.1%, and gold reserves increased by 2.4%, all compared with a year ago.

For non-metallic minerals, by the end of 2023, China's magnesite reserves increased by 2.2% and fluorspar reserves increased by 24.4% from the end of 2022. In addition, sylvite reserves rose by 15.3%, sodium salt reserves rose by 8.7%, barite reserves increased by 12.4%, kaolin reserves increased by 4.0%, and crystalline graphite reserves increased by 23.9%.