In a discovery that's sending ripples through the global electric vehicle (EV) community, geologists in Hunan Province in the Chinese mainland have uncovered a vast lithium ore deposit estimated at 490 million tonnes. Situated in the Jijiaoshan mining area of Linwu County, this find positions the region as a potential powerhouse for critical battery materials.
Classified as an altered granite-type deposit, the site holds roughly 1.31 million tonnes of lithium oxide–enough to fuel millions of EVs and energy-storage systems. Researchers also noted traces of rubidium, tungsten and tin, adding to the area's mineral cache.
Xu Yiming, professor at the Mineral Resources Survey Institute of Hunan Province, says that breakthroughs in exploration tech and years of fieldwork made the find possible. The institute's advanced seismic imaging and remote-sensing methods helped navigate the region's complex geology.
The new discovery could transform Chenzhou's new-energy industry, according to local planners. As the Chinese mainland ramps up its push for carbon neutrality, access to domestic lithium reserves offers a strategic advantage, reducing import reliance and boosting sustainable growth.
Global lithium demand is surging, driven by EV adoption and renewable-energy storage. Earlier this year, the China Geological Survey reported that the Chinese mainland now holds 16.5% of the world's lithium reserves–second only to one other territory. This latest find could climb those ranks even higher.
For entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers tracking the clean-energy transition, Hunan's lithium boom underscores how resource discoveries can reshape markets overnight. With supply chains under strain, fresh domestic reserves may ease bottlenecks and accelerate the global shift to electrified transport.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
