Exploration and Utilization of Strategic Mineral Resources like Tungsten and Rare Earth in Jiangxi

On August 18, 2025, the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Natural Resources reported that, in terms of strategic mineral exploration, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the provincial fiscal budget allocated 712 million yuan, funding 230 geological exploration projects. To date, 44 new mineral deposits of strategic importance have been discovered province-wide, including 10 large-scale, 12 medium-scale, and 22 small-scale deposits. Significant breakthroughs have been achieved in finding lithium ore, ion-adsorption rare earth, and fluorite.

In terms of strategic mineral utilization, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Natural Resources organized dynamic evaluations of the resource potential for 10 strategic minerals, including iron, copper, tungsten, tin, and rare earth. A national survey of mineral resources for 120 mineral types across the province was conducted, completing resource status investigations for 2,255 solid mineral mining areas. The province also carried out evaluations of unused mining areas, providing tailored policy recommendations for 98 such areas. Re-evaluations were conducted for 36 producing mines and 65 co-associated or low-grade resource areas of 12 strategic minerals, including rare earth, gold, niobium, and tantalum.

Jiangxi is the birthplace of China's tungsten industry, often referred to as the "World Capital of Tungsten." It hosts some of the world's largest tungsten deposits, such as the Zhuxi tungsten deposit in Fuliang County and the Dongping quartz vein-type black tungsten deposit in Wuning County. Jiangxi is also a key rare earth production base in China, with its ion-adsorption rare earth resource reserves accounting for a significant share of the national total for this category. The province's rare earth resources are mainly distributed across eight counties: Xunwu, Longnan, Xingfeng, Anyuan, Ningdu, Dingnan, Ganxian, and Quan’nan. Ganzhou is dubbed the "Rare Earth Kingdom," serving as a major resource base and supply hub for ion-adsorption rare earth in China.

Both tungsten and rare earth are critical strategic mineral resources. Amid the complex global economic landscape, their strategic importance has become increasingly prominent. According to CTIA GROUP LTD Online statistics, as of the time of writing, black tungsten concentrate prices have increased by about 51.1% this year, ammonium paratungstate (APT) prices have increased by about 51.7%, tungsten powder prices have increased by about 50.3%, tungsten carbide powder prices have increased by about 49.5%, 70 ferro-tungsten prices have increased by about 48.8%, and scrap tungsten rod prices have increased by about 64.5%. This year, praseodymium oxide prices have increased by about 56.25%, neodymium oxide prices have increased by about 60.00%, praseodymium-neodymium oxide prices have increased by about 58.75%, praseodymium-neodymium metal prices have increased by about 57.84%, and terbium oxide prices have increased by about 27.45%.

In recent years, Jiangxi Province has placed great emphasis on scientific and technological innovation in the mineral resources sector, continuously strengthening projects and funding support for key core technology breakthroughs, innovation platform development, and talent cultivation. In terms of technological research, two national key R&D projects on "Strategic Mineral Resource Development and Utilization" approved in 2023 have made progress in areas such as the ultra-enrichment and high-value utilization of rubidium and cesium metals in lithium-bearing kaolin co-associated deposits, and the formation mechanisms and exploration predictions for high-quality phosphate and boron deposits. The province has also launched several key provincial R&D projects focusing on the exploration and efficient utilization of fluorite, copper, ion-adsorption medium-heavy rare earth, and black shale unconventional uranium deposits. In terms of platform development, one national key laboratory in the uranium resource field has been established, alongside the optimization and reorganization of eight provincial key laboratories in natural resources, including those for critical mineral resource exploration and development, and low-carbon processing and utilization of strategic metal mineral resources.

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