Mineral resources of Asia continent: Resource endowment, mining industry pattern, and contributions to the world economy

Abstract

Mineral resources in Asia continent and its mining industry play a significant role in the economic growth and industrialization of both Asia and the world. Asia continent boasts the most comprehensive kinds of minerals, with reserves of at least 38 of over 80 widely used minerals worldwide accounting for more than 30% of the global total reserves. Asia continent experienced three main tectonic evolution and mineralization stages: The Precambrian, the Paleozoic, and the Mesozoic to Cenozoic. The abundant mineral resources in this continent can be divided into seven first-order metallogenic belts (metallogenic domains), 18 second-order metallogenic belts (metallogenic provinces), 61 third-order metallogenic belts (metallogenic zones), and nine main minerogenetic series. Asia continent exhibits the most significant metallogenic specialization among all continents. Specifically, granite belts of Asia continent manifest pronounced metallogenic specialization of tin, rare metals, and porphyry Cu-Au-Mo deposits. Its maficultramafic rock belts and ophiolite belts display notable metallogenic specialization of lateritic nickel deposits and magmatic type chromite deposits, while its Mesozoic to Cenozoic basalt belts show remarkable metallogenic specialization of lateritic bauxite deposits. Consequently, many giant metallogenic belts were formed, including the Southeast Asian tin belt, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau rare metal metallogenic belt, the Tethyan porphyry Cu-Au-Mo metallogenic belt, the circum-Pacific porphyry Cu-Au-Mo metallogenic belt, the Southeast Asian lateritic bauxite metallogenic belt, the Deccan Plateau lateritic bauxite metallogenic belt in India, the Southeast Asian lateritic nickel metallogenic belt, and the Tethyan magmatic type chromite metallogenic belt—all of which are significant metallogenic belts in Asia continent. Future mineral exploration in Asia should focus primarily on the Precambrian mineralization of ancient cratons, the Paleozoic mineralization of the Central Asian-Mongolian orogenic belt, and the Mesozoic to Cenozoic mineralization of the Tethyan and circum-Pacific mobile belts. Asia's mining industry not only underpins its own economic growth but also propels global economic development and industrialization, contributing significantly to the world economy. Asia boasts the highest production value of minerals, the largest annual production of minerals, and the greatest trade value of mineral products among all the continents, having emerged as the trade center of global mineral products and the center of the mining industry economy. China is identified as one of the few countries that possess the most comprehensive kinds of minerals, and its mining industry has supported and driven the economic development and industrialization of Asia and even the world. Standing as the largest mineral producer worldwide, China ranked first in the production of 28 mineral commodities in the world in 2022. Besides, China exhibits the highest annual production value of minerals and the largest trade value of mineral products among all countries. Therefore, China's demand for global mineral products influences the global supply and demand patterns of minerals and the world economic situation.

Keywords

Mineral resource endowment / Minerogenetic series / Metallogenic specialization / Carbonate-type REE deposits / Weathering-type REE deposits / Hard rock-type lithium deposits / Laterite nickel deposits / Crystalline graphite deposits / Magmatic nickel deposits / Significant metallogenic belt / Mining industry development pattern / Mineral exploration and exploitation / World economy / Contribution / Asia continent

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