128 new minerals have been discovered in our country

At the 2nd China (Changsha) International Mineral Gem Expo Summit Forum, renowned geomineralogist Xie Xiande shared exciting findings about mineral discoveries in China. As of the end of 2012, a total of 4,751 new independent minerals were officially recognized by the New Minerals Committee of the International Mineralogical Association. Among these, China has identified 124 unique minerals. In addition to four newly confirmed minerals in 2013, the country has now discovered 128 new minerals in total.

Xie pointed out that China's vast and diverse geological landscape offers great potential for uncovering new minerals, especially in rare mining sites and meteorite fragments. For instance, since 1958, 15 new minerals have been found at the Baiyun Obo deposit, one of the most significant rare earth mines in the world. Another example is the discovery of "trotite," a mineral found naturally in a meteorite from Suizhou, Hubei Province. This mineral, the first high-pressure phosphate ever identified, holds promising applications in biotechnology and materials science.

Despite these achievements, Xie noted that compared to some developed nations, China still lags behind in the number of newly discovered minerals. However, he emphasized that there are numerous dedicated mineralogists across the country actively searching for new mineral species. Their ongoing efforts suggest a bright future for mineral exploration in China, with many more discoveries expected in the years to come.