Chinese geologists have discovered ample mineral resources along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the highest of its kind in the world.
According to a recent national geological survey, 13 copper belts with the length ranging from two to 30 km have been found near the railway construction site. Preliminary estimate showed the reserve can be over one million tons.
Meanwhile, geologists in Qinghai found 13 high-grade cobalt mining belts at the eastern part of Kunlun Mountains. The two deposits, which locate only 20 km away from the railway line, cover 15 square kilometers with a combined reserve of 20,000 tons. Statistics showed the total cobalt reserve in the world is around two million tons.
At the southern edge of Qaidam Basin, 200 deposits including three gold deposits and two cobalt deposits were recently discovered.