On July 9, 2025, the Hunan Provincial Department of Natural Resources announced that through innovative geological exploration theories and prolonged efforts, a super-large altered granite-type lithium deposit was discovered in the Jijiaoshan mining area of Linwu County, Chenzhou City. The deposit contains 490 million tons of lithium ore and 1.31 million tons of lithium oxide resources. It also accompanies strategic minerals such as tungsten, rubidium, and tin, all of which are newly identified resources.
Located in the Nanling low mountain range and the highest elevation area of the Xianghua Ridge mining field, the Jijiaoshan mining area features intense terrain dissection and significant elevation differences, limiting traditional transportation methods. The project team overcame these challenges, including complex terrain and difficult drilling conditions, by innovating green exploration techniques and employing large drone-mounted drilling equipment, greatly enhancing construction efficiency.
Lithium, a critical metal for energy transition and a key national strategic resource, underpins the foundation for Chenzhou City to establish a trillion-yuan new energy base. The exploration approach, methods, and management model serve as a valuable reference for lithium resource exploration in Hunan Province, strongly supporting the national lithium resource security strategy.
Notably, the tungsten found alongside the lithium deposit is another vital strategic metal. Amid tight spot supply, rising market speculation by holders, and its strategic importance, most tungsten product prices have been climbing. According to the CTIA GROUP LTD website, on July 9, 2025, the price of 65% black tungsten concentrate reached 175,000 yuan/ton, increased by 22.4% since the beginning of the year; ammonium paratungstate (APT) rose to 255,000 yuan/ton, increased by 20.9% year-to-date; tungsten powder averaged 381 yuan/kg, increased by 20.6% year-to-date; and 70 ferro-tungsten broke through the 260,000 yuan/ton mark, increased by 20.9% since the start of the year.
As a strategic metal, tungsten’s high melting point, hardness, and chemical stability enable its wide use in industry and high-end manufacturing. In the industrial sector, it is a core material for cemented carbide, used in tools like cutting bits and drills for precision machining and mining. In aerospace, tungsten-based alloys, with their heat resistance, are suitable for engine counterweights and rocket propulsion components. In electronics, tungsten wire serves as a critical material for high-temperature filaments and X-ray tubes, while tungsten contacts ensure stable conductivity in precision instruments. Additionally, it plays a key role in nuclear radiation shielding materials and as a corrosion-resistant catalyst carrier in the chemical industry.
