Xinjiang Minerals Exceeds 200bn yuan in Potential ValueAfter 15 years' endeavor in technological research, the mystery veiling over the geological structure in Xinjiang has gradually come to light, as learned of late from the Science & Technology Dept of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Up to now, a total of 41 major mineral ore belts along with 264 target areas have been marked out, forming eight large bases, promising a total of RMB200bn yuan in potential value. During the 9th Five-year Plan period (1996-2000), a total of 87 rich deposits of copper (Cu), gold (Au), antimony (Sb) and some other minerals were discovered. In Hami area to the east of Tianshan Mountains a copper reserve over 10m tons was found, indicating an annual output of 500,000 tons after exploitation. In the Lop Nor region of the eastern Tarim Basin a large sylvite was, as reported, discovered with a reserve of over 250m tons, of which 129m tons are potassium chloride, signaling a yearly output of 400,000 tons of sylvite and potash fertilizer if fully exploited. Aside from these also reported is a large, promising gold deposit on the Pamirs. By PD Online Staff Li Heng |
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