Breakthrough made in tapping potential of niobium

China has achieved a breakthrough in utilizing its niobium resources, unlocking the economic potential of nearly 930,000 metric tons of niobium ore in Hubei province, the China Geological Survey announced on Monday.

The development centers on deposits in Miaoya, a village in northwestern Hubei, and was the result of a collaboration between the CGS and the provincial government.

"This discovery is equivalent to nine or 10 large niobium ore deposits, securing China's supply of this critical resource and enabling more efficient utilization of niobium and rare earth elements," said Mao Jingwen, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Niobium, valued for its resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, is critical for the aerospace, defense and nuclear energy industries.

China, which holds the world's second-largest niobium reserves — estimated at 4.7 million metric tons — has historically struggled to exploit these resources due to low ore grades and complex geological characteristics. Most of the country's annual consumption of 50,000 tons of niobium is imported, Mao said.

Research conducted over the past two years led to the development of an innovative separation technology, according to Chen Bingyan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. The technology has increased niobium ore grades from 5 percent to 17 percent and boosted recovery rates from 20 percent to 50 percent, while also enabling the extraction of accompanying rare earth elements.

The large niobium deposit in Miaoya, discovered in the 1980s, had been underutilized until recently due to technical challenges, Chen said.

"With this new technology, the region's niobium resources could meet the country's needs for the next decade," Chen said. "This also opens up possibilities for exploiting niobium resources in other regions."

The breakthrough marks a significant step toward reducing China's dependence on imports and securing self-reliance in niobium, the CGS said.

Li Shangyi contributed to this story.