China has uncovered the world's deepest sandstone industrial uranium mineralization at 1,820 meters below the surface in the Tarim Basin, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA). The discovery, announced on Friday, marks a breakthrough in mineral exploration within the country's largest desert-covered area.
The mineralization—found in a remote, uninhabited desert region—represents the first thick and large-scale deposit identified in the basin's red variegated layer. Nuclear scientists say this achievement fills a critical gap in China's uranium resource mapping and demonstrates advanced detection technologies tailored for desert environments.
Qin Mingkuan, principal investigator at the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), emphasized the strategic importance of the find: "By integrating remote sensing, geophysical surveys, and deep drilling, we've unlocked a new frontier for uranium exploration. This discovery strengthens China's energy security and technological capabilities."
The CAEA highlighted that the newly developed green and efficient detection systems will accelerate uranium mining innovation, providing a foundation for sustainable growth in the nuclear energy sector. Analysts suggest the find could reshape long-term resource strategies for Asia's largest economy, attracting attention from global energy markets and researchers studying arid-region mineral extraction.
