China has once again underscored its dominance in the rare earth elements (REE) industry with the discovery of a colossal rare earth deposit in Honghe, Yunnan province. According to Chinese media reports, the new find could yield over 1.15 million metric tons of resources, significantly bolstering China’s rare earth reserves and strengthening its domestic and global industry footprint.
The China Geological Survey (CGS) revealed in a press release that this deposit is rich in highly sought-after minerals such as praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. Early estimates suggest over 470,000 tons of these valuable materials lie within the deposit. This breakthrough represents one of the largest ion-adsorption rare earth element deposits discovered in China, a mineral type first identified in Jiangxi province in 1969.

Ion-adsorption rare earth deposits are unique for their ease of extraction and environmental sensitivity. These minerals naturally adhere to the surfaces of clay particles in weathered granite soils, making them accessible through ion exchange methods, which minimize environmental disruption. This deposit is expected to become China’s most significant medium-to-heavy rare earth mine, poised to fuel critical industries like electronics and electric vehicles.
The CGS heralded the discovery as a major victory, stating, “The discovery is highly significant for strengthening China’s advantage in rare earth resources, improving the rare earth industry chain, and further consolidating China’s strategic dominance in medium and heavy rare earth resources.”
This find is the latest in a series of successful explorations for China. In 2024, CGS announced other significant breakthroughs, including two new minerals—Oboniobite and Scandio-fluoro-eckermannite—discovered at Bayan Obo, the world’s largest rare earth mine in Inner Mongolia. These minerals are invaluable for emerging technologies in energy, aerospace, and national defense. Additionally, geologists unearthed a massive gold deposit in Pingjiang County, with reserves exceeding 1,000 tons.
China’s advancements in geochemical exploration have been pivotal to these successes. A national geochemical baseline network developed by CGS has enabled comprehensive mineral exploration and resource mapping, securing China’s dominance in rare earth production. The US Geological Survey estimates China’s rare earth deposits now total 44 million tons of metal oxides.
China remains the leading producer of rare earth elements globally, exporting over 55,000 tons in 2024—a 6% increase from the previous year.