It was learned from Land and Resources Department of Tibet Autonomous Region that years of prospecting and surveying on mining resources show that Tibet is rich in mining resources whose potential value is estimated at about 650.5 billion yuan (US$78.4 billion). With advantageous ore-forming conditions and low extent of exploitation Tibet is expected to become an important mining base of China.

Experts said Tibet is situated in the east part of one of the world's largest ore-forming region, which stretches from the Alps to the Himalayas. Its geological structure is very complex with advantageous ore-forming conditions and conditions that may enable China to search for mines in short supply and large-scale and super-scale mining areas. After years of surveying by geological workers four large-scale ore-forming regions have been primarily found in eastern Tibet, the Himalayas, the Gangdise and the Qiangtang Plateau.

Judging from the prospecting and surveying results the mining resources of Tibet have the characteristics of relatively complete ranging of ore types and extensive distribution. Among the 173 types of ores Tibet has 100 of them, of which more ten are in short supply in China and 36 have verified deposits. A total of 1891 mine-producing areas have been discovered in Tibet. One hundred and three mining areas have been listed in deposit table, of which 30 are energy resources mining areas, 34 are metallic ore areas and 39 are non-metallic ore areas. Among the mining areas that have been listed in the deposit table 19 are large-scale deposits, 18 are medium-scale deposits and 66 are small-scale deposits. Among the mines whose deposits have been verified copper (molybdenum) and lithium have the largest deposits in the world. The lithium deposit is half that of the world. Seventeen kinds of ore deposits such as chrome ore, crystal, Corundum and high temperature terrestrial heat are rated among the first nine nationwide.

(People's Daily May 10, 2004)