China reports ‘stunning’ critical minerals finds as hi-tech race with US heats up

Chinese authorities have announced major discoveries of critical minerals at the Maoniuping mine in Sichuan province, significantly expanding the nation's strategic resource base. The state news agency Xinhua reported the discovery of 9.7 million tonnes of rare earth oxides, bringing the site's total proven reserves to 10.4 million tonnes. More notably, surveys revealed what experts are calling 'stunning' deposits of 27.1 million tonnes of fluorite and 37.2 million tonnes of baryte, qualifying the site as a 'super-large' deposit for both minerals.

While rare earths are vital for electric vehicles, smartphones, and defense systems, the fluorite and baryte finds are particularly strategic. Fluorite is a critical raw material for the semiconductor and lithium-ion battery industries, directly fueling the AI and electric vehicle revolutions. Baryte is an indispensable weighting agent for oil and gas drilling, essential for stabilizing wells and enabling shale extraction. According to Wang Denghong of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 'Without baryte, oil and gas exploration and production would grind to a halt.' These discoveries tighten China's control over the supply chains for next-generation technology and energy production, directly impacting the geopolitical and economic competition with the United States.