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China Other Minerals and Metals
After 1949 geological exploration discovered deposits of more
than 130 useful minerals
(see fig. __, Fuels, Power, Minerals, and
Metals, 1983). China is among the world leaders in proven deposits
of tungsten, antimony, rare earth, molybdenum, vanadium titanium,
pyrite, gypsum, barite, copper, tin, lead, zinc, aluminum, mercury,
manganese, nickel, phosphorus, asbestos, fluorite, magnesite, and
borax. Of these, China exported antimony, tin, and tungsten in
significant quantities. In general, mineral extraction was
inadequate for industrialization because of transportation
bottlenecks and shortages of modern equipment for mining, smelting,
and refinement. A number of important mineral products were
imported despite large domestic deposits, including aluminum,
copper, and zinc.
Among the rare earth metals and ferroalloys, beryllium,
tungsten, molybdenum, barium, manganese, mercury, niobium,
zirconium, and titanium were present in large reserves and were
extracted in adequate quantities. Deficiencies existed in chromium,
platinum, and gold.
China produced sufficient quantities of most nonmetallic
minerals to meet domestic needs. Barite, fluorite, salt, and talc
were available in massive reserves and were exported in large
quantities. Graphite, magnesite, phosphates, and pyrite were less
abundant but generally satisfied domestic demand. Sulphur deposits
were large, but quality was low and imports were necessary.
China is rich in uranium and has favorable geological
conditions for the formation of uranium deposits. The ore is easy
to mine and dress because of its relatively simple physical
composition.
Data as of July 1987
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