Mineral Resources of China: With Special Reference to the Nonferrous Metals

Abstract

C HINA is rich in mineral resources. It dominates the world market in tungsten and antimony; it is one of the great producers of tin and mercury. It ranks fourth in the world in coal reserves; indeed, coal mining was the principal mineral industry in prewar China. Its iron reserves are among the most important in Asia. It has substantial reserves of lead, zinc, copper, and manganese ores. A certain amount of petroleum and natural gas has been found. It is poor in silver, though known as a silver country, but it is rich in gold. Recently, magnesite has been mined extensively in Manchuria, the deposits of which are said to be the largest in the world. Bauxite resources are known to exist and are said to be exploited by the Japanese in Manchuria. Nor should the nonmetallic minerals, such as salt and building stone, useful in the chemical industries and for construction, be overlooked. Lack of space limits this article to the nonferrous metals, but so necessary are coal and iron to industrial development that a synopsis of these resources in the form of two maps (Figs. i and 2) iS given by way of introduction.