China finds uranium at 'unexpected' depths

China's nuclear authorities say their team has discovered rich uranium deposits at new depths, calling it a breakthrough for national security.

Huge deposits of uranium have been found at depths that were previously thought impossible, increasing China's total estimated reserves tenfold to more than 2 million tons, according to scientists.

This number is putting China on par with Australia, one of the world's most uranium-rich countries, according to scientists involved in the project, the South China Morning Post reported on May 30.

Chinese researchers claim to have discovered many uranium mines at seemingly "impossible" depths.

Using some of the world's most advanced technology and equipment, geologists have increased the exploration depth to 3,000m, six times deeper than most of the country's uranium mines.

'This world-leading project is a great breakthrough for our country,' China National Nuclear Corporation said on WeChat.

Li Ziying, director of the Uranium Geological Research Institute in Beijing, said the discovery challenged mainstream theories of uranium mine formation.

It is generally believed that the radioactive element is concentrated only in a shallow, geophysically stable area. But some of the largest uranium deposits found in southern China in recent years lie more than 1,500 meters below ground.

These regions often undergo intense tectonic movement, so, according to previous theories, forming uranium ore at such depths was not possible because of the lengthy and complex formation process. .

China's demand for uranium is expanding, with its nuclear energy supply growing faster than any other country, with seven or eight new reactors being built each year.

Uranium also plays a dominant role in weapons production. The Chinese military's nuclear stockpile has expanded dramatically in recent years, as political tensions have increased with the United States and its allies, according to several assessments based on available evidence.

But most of the uranium mines in China until the new discovery were small in scale with poor ore quality. More than 70% of the country's supply comes from Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia. Overdependence on foreign supplies has made Beijing nervous about security risks.