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A New Mineral Discovery In China Could Alter The Global Balance In Battery Production. A Massive Lithium Deposit Has Been Found In Hunan Province, With Potential To Further Strengthen Chinese Dominance In The Sector.
China has revealed a new and massive lithium reserve in Hunan Province.
The discovery could impact the global supply of batteries for electric vehicles, further reinforcing Chinese dominance in the clean energy supply chain.
The deposit was identified in the mining area of Jijiaoshan, in Linwu County, and promises to accelerate the pace of exploration and production.
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A Deposit Of 540 Million Tons
The new deposit contains about 540 million tons of lithium ore.
The official estimate released by authorities from the provincial Department of Natural Resources indicates that there are approximately 1.31 million tons of lithium oxide at the site.
The ore is of the altered granite type, a rock structure that is easier to process than brines, for example.
The exploration of this type of rock is usually done with crushing and separation techniques, which offer more agility, lower initial costs, and greater flexibility in production.
This allows for the rapid introduction of the material to the market, which could change the pace of global supply.
Years Of Fieldwork
The discovery was announced by Chinese state media, CCTV. According to the broadcaster, teams from the Hunan Provincial Institute of Mineral Resources Research were responsible for the exploration. The confirmation came after years of fieldwork and analysis of geological images of the region.
Professor Xu Yiming from the institute stated that the discovery would help the city of Chenzhou further develop its energy industry.
The region also revealed the presence of other valuable minerals such as rubidium, tungsten, and tin, which could enhance the economic viability of future operations at the site.
China Expands Global Presence In The Sector
With this new discovery, China’s share of global lithium reserves reaches 16.5%, second only to Chile. China already leads the refining process, with more than 70% of global capacity, making it a key player in battery production.
In addition to Hunan, Chinese researchers are evaluating a 2,800-kilometer stretch of spodumene in Tibet. The estimate is that the region may contain up to 30 million tons of lithium. If the numbers are confirmed, the country’s reserves could grow even further in the coming years.
Accelerating Domestic Demand
China already hosts more than 60% of the global electric vehicle fleet. This requires a massive amount of batteries and, consequently, lithium. Analysts project that domestic demand for the mineral will double by 2030.
In 2022, the country accounted for 76% of global lithium-ion battery production capacity. This figure is the result of two decades of investment in mineral extraction, component manufacturing, and complete battery assembly.
Innovation In Associated Minerals
Advances are not stopping at lithium. Chinese scientists have developed a technique to isolate ultra-pure rubidium chloride from brines with only 0.001% of the mineral.
This innovation is important for technologies such as atomic clocks and next-generation solar cells.
Since rubidium is also present in the Jijiaoshan deposit, it is possible that this new technique could be applied there, which would further increase the economic value of the exploration.
International Dispute Over Resources
The discovery occurs amid a global dispute over critical metals. Western countries have been forming alliances, such as the US-EU Partnership, to try to reduce dependence on China in this sector.
The goal is to diversify supply chains and strengthen energy security.
In March, China also announced a 110 million-ton oil field in the South China Sea. This reinforces Beijing’s move towards energy and resource self-sufficiency.
The favorable geological structure and good infrastructure in the region could accelerate the transition from exploration to commercial mining in Jijiaoshan.
If this happens, the new reserve will further solidify China’s position at all stages of the lithium supply chain, from extraction to final production of batteries.
