Large gold mine discovered in NW China's Qinghai

Oct. 9, 2009 (China Knowledge) - The Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Qinghai Province has discovered 106 confirmed gold ore bodies in a gold mine in Dachang in Northwest China's Qinghai Province, the People's Daily reported today.

The gold mine, located in Maduo Township of Qumarleb County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, is still being evaluated for gold ore content, but is thought to contain over 300 tons of gold, according to the report

The mine is expected to become a major gold resources development base in China.

The bureau plans to finish the prospecting work on the main gold area by the end of 2009 and to start development of the mine in 2010.

In 2008, China's gold production hit a record high of 282 tons, up 4.26% year on year, according to an earlier report from China Knowledge. The country's three leading provinces in gold production, Shandong Province, Henan Province and Jiangxi Province, together accounted for 46.4% of the total production last year.