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Chinese scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of vast reserves of rare earth minerals in the Himalayas, potentially solidifying China's position as the leading global supplier, reports South China Morning Post (SCMP). Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI), researchers from China University of Geosciences in Wuhan identified these deposits, which span a 1,000-kilometer stretch across the Tibetan plateau. However, the remote location of these minerals presents challenges to mining operations, and extraction could take several decades.
The SCMP report reveals that China initiated the development of the AI system in 2020, led by Zuo Renguang and his team. Their objective was to create an AI-based system capable of analyzing raw satellite data to locate new rare earth deposits. Professor Zuo noted in a recently published paper in the Chinese-language journal Earth Science Frontiers, "China's demand for bulk mineral resources such as iron, copper, aluminum, coal, and cement, which support industrialization and urbanization, is expected to sharply decline in the next 15 to 20 years. The focus of mining will mainly shift to rare earths." He further emphasized the indispensability of rare earth metals in emerging industries, including new materials, new energy, defense and military technology, and information technology, positioning them as crucial strategic resources in global competition.
Chinese researchers believe that this discovery will significantly favor China's interests. Data from industries cited by the SCMP indicate that China's share of global reserves has decreased from 43% in the 1980s and 1990s to 36.7% in 2021. Meanwhile, rare earth resources outside China have witnessed significant growth, more than doubling in the same period. Given the rapid technological advancements, rare earth minerals have become integral to numerous applications, spanning from energy to defense sectors.
The developed AI system focuses on identifying light-colored granite that potentially harbors rare earth minerals like niobium and tantalum, as well as lithium, a crucial component for electric vehicle manufacturing. Chinese geologists have identified such granite across the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, but the idea of mining these minerals only recently emerged. Nearly a decade ago, they stumbled upon rare earth minerals and lithium in rock samples from Tibet, prompting them to embark on developing this innovative AI tool. Initially, the system exhibited an accuracy rate of 60%. However, the research team improved its precision to 90% by incorporating additional information about the chemical composition of rocks, as reported by SCMP.