20-ton Gold and Billion-ton Iron Reserves Discovered during Deep Prospecting in Xinjiang

The Xinjiang Geology and Minerals Bureau announced on Jan. 3rd that since the implementation of the energy resources transfer strategy,discoveries have been made of 20 tonnes of gold, 1 billion tonnes of iron and a world-class integrated ‘deep prospecting ’ coalfield in Xinjiang.

According to SGMB, 21 fields containing coal,gold, iron and lead-zinc were found last year,with more than 10 with development potential.Meanwhile, approximately 190 billion tonnes of coal reserves were discovered at Turpan and Kumul in the east of Xinjiang, of which three coalfields at Kumtag-Shissar Lake, Danan Lake-Yema Spring and Naomao Lake accounted for 150 billion tons. Verified reserves of over 200 billion tons made Zhundong Coalfield a world-class integrated coalfield.

Excellent progress has been made in the prospecting of metal mines. Gold reserves(1137.20，0.70，0.06%) at Xiying Gold Mine on South Tian Mountain amounted to over 20 tons, with estimated total prospective reserves exceeding 30 tons. This has greatly increased the gold reserves of Xinjiang. Prospecting also revealed a 1-billion-ton potential reserve in the Awulale Iron Ore Area at West Tian Mountain,a 500-million-ton prospective reserve in the Taxkorgon Iron Ore Area at West Kunlun Mountain, and proven lead-zinc reserves of 1.54 million tonnes and potential reserves of 3 million tonnes in the Caixia Mountain Lead-Zinc Deposit at East Tian Mountain.

A strategy of “deep prospecting” will continue to be pursued in Xinjiang this year, while“West Coal Eastward” prospecting will be carried out in eastern Xinjiang and Yili, and integrated prospecting for the important deposits of gold, iron and lead-zinc will become a new focus during which it is hoped that 7 - 10 new deposits are discovered.