3.17.1.1 Reserves and Resources

Deposits of platinum group metals and prospective rockbodies have been discovered in more than 60 counties in the world. South Africa, Russia, Canada, Zimbabwe, the USA and Australia are the leading countries in terms of reserves and potential of platinum group metals. In 1997, the reserves and retained reserves of platinum group metals in the world are 71 million kg and 78 million kg respectively. In terms of reserves, South Africa, Russia, Canada and the USA are the first four, which occupy 95% and more of the world's total reserves. The platinum group metal reserves of China make up only 0.3¡ë of the world's total.     

By the year of 1997, the retained reserves of platinum group metals in China had been 307,921 kg, of which 23,338 kg belong to categories A+B+C, ranking 6th in the world. Among the retained reserves, Pt makes up 53.8%; Pd, 39.5%; Rh, Ir, Ru and Os 1.0%, 2.1%, 1.5% and 2.1%, respectively. The cumulative explored reserves of platinum group metals had been 339,669 kg, of which 23,737 kg belong to categories A+B+C.     

Resources of platinum group metals have a relatively concentrated distribution, mainly in Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Heilongjiang and Hebei Provinces. There are three deposits in these regions and their retained platinum and palladium reserves account for 82.3% of the China's total. The Baijiazuizi Cu-Ni sulfide deposit in Jinchuan, Gansu Province has retained reserves of 176,464 kg, amounting to 57.3% of the China's total; the Jinbaoshan palladium-platinum deposit in Midu, Yunnan Province, has retained reserves of 48,802 kg, making up 15.9%; and the Yangliuping nickel-plpalladium (associated) deposit in Danba, Sichuan Province, has retained reserves of 27,975 kg, accounting for 9.1%. Small ore occurrences are found in many other provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions), such as Hebei, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Beijing and Inner Mongolia, but their reserves are very small. In brief, China has relatively limited platinum group resources and they are concentrated in a few regions. Moreover, there are poor varieties of rich platinum group metal deposits and platinum group minerals are generally associated with copper and nickel sulfides in Cu-Ni sulphide deposits.     

Rhodium, Iridium, Osmium and Ruthenium are mainly distributed in Gansu, Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces. In Gansu Province, the reserves of these four metals amount to 59.3%, 64.4%, 74.0% and 84.9% of China's total respectively and the corresponding figures of Yunnan Province are 39.4%, 29.4%, 9.8% and 13.2%. As regards the total reserves of Gansu and Yunnan, each of Rh, Ir and Ru amounts to over 95% of the national total. Osmium is an exception whose reserves in Yunnan (9.8%) are slightly lower than those in Heilongjiang (15.2%).Major platinum group metal deposits in China are listed in Table 3.17.1.

Table 3.17.1 Major platinum group metal deposits in China


3.17.1.2 Characteristics

(1) Concentrated distribution

The platinum resources of China are distributed concentratedly in the Jinchuan Cu-Ni sulfide deposit, Gansu Province, Jinbaoshan Pt-Pd deposit in Midu, Yunnan Province and Yangliuping Ni-Pt-Pd (associated) deposit in Danba, Sichuan Province. Their reserves make up 82.3% of the China's total.

(2) Low grade

The average grade of platinum group metals in China is 0.796 g/t: 0.341 g/t for Pt, 0.386 g/t for Pd, 0.041g/t for Os+Ir, and 0.028 g/t for Rh+Ru. The grade of deposits predominated by platinum group metals is 1.468 g/t (2.33 g/t for high-grade ore), the grade of deposits associated with copper and nickel is 0.768 g/t and the grade of associated components in Cu-Ni deposits is 0.436 g/t.     

The ratio of Pt:Pd=1.3945:1 on an average in China. Among the reserves of all platinum group metals, Pt amounts to 38.5%; Pd, 19.3%; Pt and Pd (altogether), 35.4%; Rh, Ir, Os and Ru, 1.1%, 2.1%, 2.1% and 1.5% respectively.

(3) Various deposit types

There are various types of deposits of platinum group metals in China, such as magmatic liquation deposits, hydrothermal modified deposits and placer platinum deposits, but most reserves are yielded by deposits producing associated and by-product platinum group metals. In addition, some platinum group metals occur in black rock series, hydrothermal or skarn type polymetallic deposits and porphyry copper and molybdenum deposits. According to the analysis made in 1990, the platinum group metal deposits of China can be divided into three groups: deposits mined for platinum group metals alone, deposits in which platinum group metals are associated with other metals and deposits producing platinum group metals as a by-product. There are 13 deposits of the first group (Pt+Pd¡Ý0.5 g/t) with reserves of 82.9 tons; 8 deposits of the second group (Pt+Pd¡Ý0.5 g/t) with reserves of 44.41 tons, and 10 deposits of the third group (Pt+Pd£¼0.5 g/t) with reserves of 184.11 tons. The last two groups account for 73%. The statistics made in 1996 show that 93.4% of the platinum group metals (explored reserves) are associated with copper and nickel sulfides and polymetals.