Specialists from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences made this discovery, which received official recognition after a vote by the commission of the International Mineralogical Association, which is responsible for the classification of new minerals. In Chinese, the mineral is called jinxu.
According to Yan Jiajun, head of the Laboratory of Theory and Technology of Deep Mineral Exploration, jinxu emerged as a result of the replacement of previously existing nickel-containing minerals, leading to a change in the crystal structure and the formation of a new mineral compound.
Experts emphasize that the Longhua deposit is characterized by a high concentration of minerals: the nickel content in the ore reaches approximately 17.5%, while cobalt is about 1.5%, which significantly exceeds the average industrial levels by nearly 80 times.
This discovery represents a significant step in the study of the origin of hydrothermal nickel-cobalt deposits and may impact the search for strategically important resources, such as cobalt, which China largely depends on importing.
Source: news.cctv.com
