Naqu Resources

Mineral Resources

Reserves of 232 mineral ores have been verified in Nagqu Prefecture, including gold, silver, chromium, lead, zinc, salt, lithium, agate, crystal, boron, magnesium, petroleum and jade. The reserves of a dozen ores, including gold, lead, zinc, salt, boron and jade, are extremely rich. Nagqu leads the rest of China in the reserves of chromite, iron and antimony, and reserves of geothermal energy, copper, iron, boron and magnetite are all well to the fore. There are also large reserves of lithium. Incomplete statistics reveal that 46 types of ferrous and non- ferrous ores, and jadeite have been found at 335 sites. There include 11 large mineral sites, 20 medium-sized sites, and 304 small sites. A comprehensive prospecting program has verified reserves of 12 mineral ores at some 20 different sites. Because of the inhospitable climate, the landlocked nature of the area, and poor technical resources, the bulk of these mineral resources have yet to be exploited.

The Dangqoi Iron Area in Nagqu is famous for its extremely rich reserves. Chromite is widely distributed in Nagqu, and three chromite area have been discovered in the Yilha Mountains in northern Tibet. These include the Yilha Mountain Chromite Area, the Dongqiao Chromite Area in Amdo, and the Qilin Lake Chromite Area also in Amdo. In recent years, 56 rocky sites with a combined area of 1,500 square kilometers and large reserves of chromite have also been found. These sites are located in areas form the Banggong Co Lake to Zhabo, and from Dongqiao to the Nujiang River. There are also rich, high grade reserves of platinum in association with the chromite. Comprehensive development of the platinum ore is underway in some areas. Enormous reserves of antimony have also been found in a 700 kilometer long area in Deqeng in the east and Banggo in Nagqu in the west. Efforts are being made to prospect in this area, which is expected to become China's largest antimony producting base. Copper is also widely distributed in the area, and the copper found in Nyerong, Amdo and Baqen is of a high grade. There are small gold mines everywhere in Nagqu, and gold reserves have been verified in a dozen areas. Given these facts, many believe that there are great prospects for the development of the gold mining industry in Nagqu. A large silver mine has also been found in Jiali County.

The numerous salt lakes in northern Tibet contain high-grade boron resources, and efforts were made in the early 1960s to develop these resources. Nagqu is also rich in salt. Since ancient times, the people of Nagqu have traded salt for grain, and there are numerous natural salt sites in the area. Five of these have proved to be exploitable, and their annual production is expected to reach 100 million tons. Nagqu is also rich in high-grade alkalis, boron and mirabilite used in the chemical industry. A great variety of precious stones have also been found in Nagqu, including diamonds, rubies, jade, turquoise, agate and cat's eye.

Energy and Geothermal

Nagqu is richly endowed with hydraulic, geothermal, petroleum, coal, solar energy and wind energy resources. Sunshine totals, 2,886 hours a year, hence commanding enormous advantages in the development of solar energy. In recent years, Nagqu has introduced close to 1,000 sets of solar energy lamps from China's hinterland, which are small in size and easy to operate and greatly appreciated by the local herders. The solar energy power stations in Nyima and Shuanghu have already gone into operation. Many government institutions, and urban and rural residents now resort to wind and solar energy for illumination and heating.

Crisscrossed by rivers, Nagqu is also very rich in water resources. The Yangtze and Nujiang rivers all originate from this area. Some 20 tributaries empty into each of the two rivers, and some 30 tributaries empty into inland lakes and the yarlung Zangbo River. There are also many seasonal rivers in this area. In addition, Nagqu boasts over 3,000 lakes, including the Namco Laka (one of the four major alpine lakes in the plateau), and the Tangra Yumco Lake (one of the three major yumco lakes in Tibet). Thus far, hydraulic power stations have been built in Biru, Baqen, Sog and Xainza counties, and some news ones are being built in Nyainrong and some other counties. These should help solve the shortage of energy in Nagqu.

Nagqu is very rich in geothermal energy, with more than 200 geothermal sites distributed throughout the region. A dual circulation geothermal power station of 1,000 Kw, built with a loan from the United Nations, succeeded in a trial operation in 1993.

Oil and gas have also been found in Nagqu, in the Pangkong, Amdo, Shuanghu and Nagqu counties. Rich oil reserves have been located in the Lhunbola area in Pangkog County in the western part of north Tibet. More than 40 test wells have been dug to depths of 35,000 meters, with good results.

Coal reserves are concentrated in the Tumengela and Qamdo areas in the Tibet Autonomous Region. In Nagqu, four sites have been found. Efforts were made to mine coal at Tumengela, but poor coal quality and fierce natural conditions forced the miners to stop mining before long.

Nagqu is exposed to seasonal winds of force 4 or stronger, which generally blow from 2pm to 8pm daily. The wind is stronger in Amdo, with the blowing period covering 280 days a year. Some villages are exposed to these strong winds for 5,570 hours a year. Since 1982, about 300 smll wind generators have been introduced from China's hinterland for trial operation in Degyi Township and Shuanghu in Nagqu County. Local science commissions have set up stations to further utilize wind energy.In Tibet, where no readily available fossil fuels exist, the Nagqu geothermal field provides a useful energy source for the local population.The project was originated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the contract, after an international tender, was awarded by the United Nations.

The power plant,With the help of the UN, a 1 MWe binary plant was built in 1993,which utilizes an air cooler to condense the organic fluid, as no cooling tower make-up water is available, is the highest of this type in the world at 14,850ft--4500m above sea level.At the same time, a geothermal greenhouse at an elevation of 4500 m has been completed. The output of the greenhouse is 6000 kg/mu (1 mu = 0.0667 hectares).

Since geothermal is often a replacement for diesel or other fossil fuels, it has great benefits for people's health through improved air quality.It will be a unforgotable memory to swimming in the natural swimming pool to enjoy the beauty of the jokul!

Medicinal Herbs

The Changtang Plateau is the highest spot in the world, featuring a highly frigid climate and a scarcity of oxygen. The plants and animals that are able to survive there boast a high adaptability to their harsh environment. The Four-Volume Medical Code notes that "everything in the world can be used as medicine," which holds especially true in this part of the world. Here, there are animals, plants and minerals that can all be adopted as medicinal materials. Major ones include the following:

1.Rhodiola. Growing in the rocky places of snow-covered mountains, Rhodiola is of a cold nature and can be used to treat acute betrite diseases. It therefore has a curative effect on those who suffer from TB, spitting blood, poisoning and a scarcity of oxygen.

2.Chinese caterpillar fungus. This grows in alpine grasslands with an elevation of 3,000-4,000 meters. It is good for the lungs and brain, and can be used to stop bleeding and reduce phlegm.

3.Snowy mountain bulb of fritillary. Indigenous to alpine grasslands, this bulb is good for the lungs and can be used to stop coughing, reduce phlegm and relieve internal heat.

In Tibetan medicine, minerals are also used as raw materials. They include gold, silver, brown copper, iron, amber, lead, and some kinds of stone. All of these are widely distributed in Nagqu.

Animal parts are used as raw materials for Tibetan medicine as well. An example is the deer from east Tibet. Its blood can be used to stop excessive bleeding during menstruation, and its grease can be used to treat scabies and soothe itching. Pilose antler can be used to enrich declining kidneys and replenish the supply of semen. The antlers can also be used to treat pustule and kidney dropsy. The droppings can be used to strengthen the kidneys and fortify male sexual ability. Musk deer is also precious medicinal raw material, the musk used for aromatic purposes and its flesh as tonic food. Argali horn can be used to treat contagious plagues, clean lungs, and relieve internal heat. Rock sheep horn can be used to treat various diseases related to heat, and clean pus inside the body. Rock sheep hair can be used to relieve internal heat. Tibetan antelope horns can be used to treat wounds abnormal menstruation, and bleeding wombs, and can help with difficult labor, dead fetuses, and abdominal pain. Its blood can be used to stop diarrhea and treat sterilization. Wild yak is even more precious in terms of medicinal effect. It horn can be used to treat tumors, and its bones can be used to build up male sexual ability. Its marrow can be used to treat scabies, its heart can be used to treat mental disorders, angina pectoris and illnesses related to excessive weakness, its tongue can be used to treat gall tumors, its blood can be used to treat diarrhea, and its testicles can be used to build up male sexual ability. In addition, leopard bones, bear paws and monkey bones are all precious for medicinal materials and tonic foods.

Aquatic Products

Nagqu is criss-crossed with rivers and dotted with lakes. The area is therefore very rich in fish resources. The fish in northern Tibet are known as "highland carp" and are very tasty. Fish are raised in an area of more than 3.333 million hectares of water, but in 1998 only one million kilograms were caught because of climatic restrictions, and processing and transport problems.

Forestry

Dense forests grow deep in landlocked mountains in Biru, Jiali and Song counties in east Nagqu. They cover a total area of 220,000 hectares, with timber reserves reaching 10 million cubic meters. Major tree species include fir, dragon spruce, cypress, pine, broad-leaf and alpine oak trees. These resources have yet to be used.