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

minerals is on going from large and small deposits in Afghanistan, Australia, Nepal, New Zealand,
Vietnam, Bhutan, and China, and potential exists in these countries for additional production of
building stone, aggregate, and limestone, talc, and dolomite. Semi precious gem deposits continue
to be mined, expanded and discovered throughout much of the region. The presence of a number
of small diamond placer deposits and favorable geology suggest further potential for large hardrock
diamond discoveries, in Australia, China, and India. Cenozoic marine and fluvial deposits
will continue to be a large source of industrial minerals in the Asia and Pacific region. Significant
large heavy-mineral sand deposits rich in titanium, zirconium, and rare-earth elements along the
coastlines of New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, India, China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam may have
extensive resources of these commodities and new discoveries and expansion of reserves is likely.
Potential exists for the discovery of large phosphate deposits in Australia, India, and
Cambodia. Similarly, there are potentially extensive large deposits of potash, gypsum, and salt in
Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia in the Khorat Plateau and Vientianed and Savannakhet Plains.
Similar potential also is present for these deposits in the Murray Basin, Australia. Substantial
growth in discovery and production is likely around the Paleozoic salt and gypsum deposits in
Mongolia. Resources of Mesozoic volcanic-hosted zeolite deposits are likely to expand at
Tsagaantsav, Mongolia. The large Mangampeta barite deposit, India is the largest such deposit in
the world and the Bayan Obo iron-rare-earth element- niobium deposit, China is the largest rareearth
element deposit in world, and these two deposits should retain extensive reserves and
production into the future. Mesozoic fluorspar vein deposits at Berkh 1 and Bor-Undur; Mongolia,
and the igneous rare-earth elements deposit at Mushgai Khudag, Mongolia also are likely to expand
production. Deposits of clays, such as ion adsorption clays at Qaidam Basin, China, and deposits
of lithium, magnesite, and graphite deposits, India, should remain significant global and regional
sources of these materials.
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