China announces significant discoveries of critical minerals, including rare earth oxides and fluorite, bolstering supplies essential for high-tech, renewable energy, and defense applications.
Super-Large Deposits at Maoniuping Mine
Surveys at the Maoniuping mine in Mianning County, Sichuan Province, confirm 9.7 million tonnes of rare earth oxides. This elevates the site’s total verified reserves to 10.4 million tonnes. Additional findings include 27.1 million tonnes of fluorite and 37.2 million tonnes of baryte, classifying the deposit as super-large for both minerals.
These reserves reinforce China’s leading position in rare earth production. The 17 rare earth elements power smartphones, electric vehicles, weapons systems, and spacecraft.
Experts highlight the fluorite and baryte discoveries as particularly noteworthy. Wang Denghong, director of the Institute of Mineral Resources at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, calls them the standout elements. Fluorite, also known as fluorspar, supports semiconductor manufacturing and lithium-ion batteries. Baryte serves as a key weighting agent in oil and gas drilling, stabilizing wells and preventing blowouts. “Without baryte, oil and gas exploration and production would grind to a halt, and the extraction of shale oil and gas would be out of the question,” Wang states.
Antimony Boost in Gansu Province
In Tanchang County, Gansu Province, officials report 51,455 tonnes of antimony, expanding proven reserves by over 50 percent. Antimony functions as a flame retardant in plastics and electronics.
Geopolitical Implications Amid US Rivalry
Critical minerals fuel tensions in the escalating economic and tech competition between China and the United States. As the top rare earth producer, China leverages its resources in trade disputes.
Beijing enacted export controls on seven rare earth elements and permanent magnets last April, following US tariffs on Chinese goods. Exporters now require official approval for shipments. Starting in December, authorities issued extended export licenses, aiding deliveries to Europe while US volumes lag.
Recent customs figures show rare earth permanent magnet exports to the US dropped 22.5 percent in January and February 2026, totaling 994 tonnes. In contrast, shipments to the European Union rose 28.4 percent to 4,775 tonnes over the same period.
