Regional distribution and sustainable development strategy of mineral resources in China

Abstract

This paper summarizes the distribution and production layout of the major mineral resources in China, including coal, iron ore, copper and bauxite, from a national perspective. It also identifies the incompatibility between the mineral resources distribution and regional economic development. Significant issues with China’s mineral resource industry cause challenges for the sustainable development of both the mining industry and the national socio-economy. The sustainability of regional mineral resources and the environmental pollution by mining in the western China were also analyzed. Results show that the distribution of China’s mineral resources is misaligned with its regional layout of economic development. China’s mineral resources have been over-exploited, and the mineral resources production in the eastern China is unsustainable. The continuously expanding production of mineral resources in the western China has heavily endangered the ecological environment. We propose strategies to boost the sustainable development of mineral resources, including measures to accelerate economic development and enhance the sustainability of domestic mineral resources. We also offer suggestions for scientifically planning the mineral resource prospecting and exploitation and regional economic layout, as well as for proactively undertaking industry transfer in the eastern China and raising the environmental benchmark requirements for the mineral industry in the central and western China.