The China Geological Survey (CGS) say they’ve found vast metal
reserves on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the ‘roof of
the world’, and when exploited they’ll greatly relieve the present
strain on the country’s limited resources.
A seven-year survey was carried-out by the CGS and the results
were released yesterday. The work was undertaken to gauge the
area's resources and tourism potential. Over 600 potential sites
for new mines were found.
It’s estimated the plateau has reserves of 30-40 million tons of
copper, 40 million tons of lead and zinc and several billion tons
of iron ore. A series of rich iron seams were discovered in
Nixiong, near the Plateau's center, with estimated reserves of up
to 500 million tons.
The type of ore found can be refined directly without prior
treatment and is prized by steel producers. If proven, the Nixiong
seams would be China's first substantial find of a rich iron ore
supply. ?
The plateau, which straddles six provinces and autonomous
regions in southwest China, stands an average of 4,300 meters above
sea level. Harsh conditions at that altitude means more than half
the 2.6 million square kilometer plateau area has yet to be
surveyed, said Zhuang Yuxun, director of the Department of
Geological Investigation of the CGS.
It took over 1,000 specialists from 24 geological survey teams
seven years to produce the results. Using remote sensing equipment
combined with a lot of hiking, the experts have produced 110
regional geological maps on a 1:250,000 scale. The maps are the
first to detail the plateau's mineral resources and potential
tourism spots.
"The survey represents an historical step in our understanding
of the geology of China," said Zhang Hongtao, deputy director of
the CGS. He pointed out that most developed countries had
completely surveyed their territories to a scale of 1:50,000.
"We’ll speed up the surveying process to more accurately locate
these minerals," said Zhang. "Once mines are developed, they’ll
greatly relieve the strain on China's existing resources."
Despite the promise of rich rewards from mining in the area,
Zhang called for a gradual development warning that blind
exploitation could permanently damage the plateau's fragile
ecosystem. "We suggest a gradual development with natural
restoration plans drawn up before industrial exploitation begins,"
he said.
The survey also unearthed thousands of fossilized sea creatures
confirming the plateau was once a seabed. Zhang said the fossils
could prove invaluable for understanding the geological
transformation.
The area is currently thought to have been seabed over 100
million years ago which was forced upwards by movement of the
earth's crust.
"It’s likely that a major theory geo-science breakthrough will
come from finds on the plateau," said Li Tingdong, an academician
with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
(China Daily February 13, 2007)
