12. Sep 2009
Tibet's mineral deposits estimated at 600bn yuan
(Xinhua) Tibet has verified mineral deposits with a total value estimated at over 600 billion yuan (UK£45.33bn; US$72.6bn; EUR€49.5bn), according to the TAR Department of Land and Resources. The report said that there are verified reserves of 12 types of minerals, and another 102 types of minerals have been found in the region. Nine key zones have been marked off for mining industrial development, including the Yulong copper production base in eastern Tibet and Nyixong iron production base in southern central Tibet, said Dorje, a leading official of the department. He also indicated that mining zones in Lhasa's Maldrogongkar (Chin: Mozhugongka) county and around northern Tibet's salt lakes are expected to become national bases for developing mineral resources.