2022 Annual Report of China Mineral Resources (lithium, nickel, cobalt, REE etc.)

In September 2022, the Ministry of Natural Resources of PRC released the 2022 China Mineral Resources Report,which focuses on such information since 2021 as the new progress made in China’s geological survey; reconnaissance,exploration and development of mineral resources, mine ecological rehabilitation and green mine construction; new changes in policies and regulations related to mineral resources; new measures taken in management of mineral resources; new scientific and technological innovation; and new achievements obtained in the international cooperation on geological and mineral resources with countries participating in the “Belt and Road Initiative”.

Till the end of year 2021, a total of 173 kinds of mineral resources have been discovered in China, including 13 kinds of energy minerals, 59 kinds of metallic minerals, 95 kinds of nonmetallic minerals and 6 kinds of water and gases (Tables 1-3; Figs. 1-3). The year 2021 witnessed the growth of investments in geological exploration by 11.6%, of which the investment in geological exploration of non-oil-gas minerals has achieved positive growth for the first time since 2013. In 2021, 95 mineral deposits were discovered throughout China.Breakthroughs were made in oil and gas exploration in Ordos Basin, Dzungar Basin, Tarim Basin, Sichuan Basin, Bohai Bay Basin, etc. Major progress was made in the exploration ofcoal, gold and three rare minerals (rare earth, rare metal and rare-scattered elements).

Table 1. Reserves of Main Energy Minerals in China in 2021.

Table 2. Reserves of main metallic minerals in China in 2021.

Table 3. Reserves of main nonmetallic minerals in China in 2021.

Fig. 1. Regional distribution of main energy minerals in China.

This article excerpts the second chapter “Mineral Resources Reserves”. If you are interested in this report,please visit the website of the Ministry of Natural Resources(https://www.mnr.gov.cn/sj/sjfw/kc_19263/zgkczybg/202209/t20220921_2759600.html) to read. (Compiled by Xi-jie Chen,Li-qiong Jia, Ting Jia fromChina GeologyEditorial Office)

Fig. 2. Regional Distribution of Main Metallic Minerals in China.

Fig. 3. Regional Distribution of Main Nonmetallic Minerals in China.