Geology and Nonfuel Mineral Deposits of Asia and the Pacific - USGS

and limestone. Diamond exploration in Australia led to the discovery of the Argyle deposit and
additional prospecting has led to additional diamond discoveries in Australia, India, and China
(table 2). Feasibility studies and drilling have taken place along the coastlines of New Zealand,
Australia, Bangladesh, India, China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam on a number of large coastline placer
deposits that contain titanium, rare-earth elements, zirconium, iron, and other elements.
Development of phosphate deposits in Australia, India, and Cambodia, and deposits of potash,
gypsum and salt in Thailand and Laos has been on going since the 1990s.
Potential for occurrence of undiscovered mineral resources
The geologic setting in the Asia and Pacific region (table 2, fig. 3) is consistent with the
discovery of a number of new, important mineral belts, which may contain potential for the
occurrence of undiscovered deposits. In addition, the presence of known mineral deposits suggests
that well-known belts also may be areas of new discoveries. In the1990s to the present, substantial
exploration has been conducted by local governments and by major Asian and western mining
companies for mineral deposits of gold, silver, platinum group elements, copper, and zinc, as well
as rare-earth elements, germanium, diamonds, phosphate, potash deposits and other industrial
mineral deposits. The main areas of mineral potential naturally overlap the areas of intense
exploration and include Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Mekong
Delta Countries, China, India, and Mongolia. Potential for future new discoveries of large deposits
in Japan and South Korea is hampered by competition for land for urban and agricultural use.
Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan contains known resources, exploited for local use, but has been
under explored for many decades due to internal issues.
Potential for metal deposits
The Asia and Pacific region contains considerable potential for further discovery of new
reserves of aluminum-bauxite deposits in India, Australia, and China, with new additional
discovery and development of similar deposits likely in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Expansion of aluminum production also is likely from known aluminum-bauxite deposits in India,
Australia, Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia. Additional potential for additional discoveries or
extensions of known igneous-related aluminum and niobium-rare-earth element deposits near
known deposits in Mongolia also is likely.
Potential exists for discovery of new Mesozoic- and Cenozoic-age porphyry copper-gold
deposits in a number of areas in the Asia and Pacific region. In the western part of the region, there
is high potential for discovery in a belt extending from western Pakistan to eastern Afghanistan,
and probably into Iran, which contains the known Saindak and Reko Diq porphyry deposits,
Pakistan. Numerous copper-gold prospects along this belt, particularly in Afghanistan, indicate
that further potential exists. In the central part of the Asia and Pacific region, significant
discoveries, and mining expansion of currently known Cenozoic porphyry copper-gold deposits and
associated gold deposits are likely in Indonesia, Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. Considerable
potential for discovery of and expansion of existing porphyry copper-gold deposits also exists in
China in highly prospective mineral belts in the east, west, south, and northwest parts of the
country, and also in Tibet, Thailand, and Laos. Exploitation and expansion of known porphyry
copper-gold deposits in Australia in the Cadia Hill area also is likely. Discovery or expansion in
Mongolia of known Paleozoic porphyry copper deposits in the region around Oyu Tolgoi and
Tsagaan Suvarga, and Mesozoic-age porphyry copper deposits Aryn nuur and other known
deposits, also is likely.
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