New geological surveys have identified substantial reserves of rare earths, fluorite and baryte in southwestern China.
Beijing has unveiled significant new deposits of critical minerals, reinforcing its access to resources vital for high-tech manufacturing, clean energy systems and defense applications.At the Maoniuping mine in Mianning county, in Sichuan province, newly confirmed reserves include 9.
7 million tonnes of rare earth oxides, raising the site’s total proven resources to 10.4 million tonnes, according to state news agency Xinhua. The latest surveys also identified substantial quantities of other industrial minerals, with 27.1 million tonnes of fluorite and 37.2 million tonnes of baryte. Authorities classified both as “super-large” deposits, underscoring the scale of the find and its potential strategic importance for China’s industrial supply chains.Fluorite and baryte take center stage in China’s findNewly identified reserves are expected to further consolidate China’s dominance in the global supply of rare earths – a group of 17 elements essential to technologies ranging from smartphones and electric vehicles to advanced weapons systems and spacecraft.However, experts suggest the most consequential aspect of the discovery lies elsewhere. According to Wang Denghong, director of the Institute of Mineral Resources at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the fluorite and baryte deposits stand out as the truly “stunning” finds, the South China Morning Post reported.Fluorite, or fluorspar, plays a critical role in semiconductor manufacturing and lithium-ion battery production, while baryte is indispensable in oil and gas drilling, where it is used to stabilise wells and prevent blowouts. Without baryte, Wang noted, modern hydrocarbon exploration – including shale extraction – would effectively come to a standstill.In a separate development, officials in Gansu province have announced the discovery of an additional 51,455 tonnes of antimony in Tanchang county. The metal, commonly used as a flame retardant in plastics and electronic components, is a key industrial input, and the new find is expected to boost the area’s proven reserves by more than 50%, according to the provincial department of natural resources.Using rare earth supply chain power in response to US tariffsHolding a dominant position in global rare earth production, Beijing has increasingly used its control over these critical materials as leverage in trade and technology tensions with Washington. In April last year, Chinese authorities introduced export restrictions on seven rare earth elements and permanent magnets, a move that followed tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by Donald Trump.Under the revised export control framework, companies are now required to obtain government approval before shipping restricted materials overseas, adding an additional layer of oversight to outbound trade. However, Beijing indicated in December that it had started issuing longer-term export licences with extended validity periods, a move seen as an effort to provide greater predictability for select trading partners and stabilise supply chains.Early indications suggest the policy shift has helped revive shipments to Europe, where buyers have adjusted more quickly to the new licensing regime. By contrast, exports to the US remain subdued, pointing to continued frictions in bilateral trade flows and the lingering impact of broader geopolitical and regulatory tensions.
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