China discovers Asia's largest subsea gold mine
China has announced the discovery of Asia's largest undersea gold deposit, located in the northern waters of Sanshan Island, Laizhou City, Shandong Province. According to official data from the Marine Development and Fisheries Bureau of Yantai City, the site contains more than 3,900 tons of proven gold resources - accounting for roughly 26% of the nation's reserves.
The newly identified subsea mine has a certified reserve of 562 tons under JORC international standards, with an average ore grade of 4.2 grams per ton. The mine is designed to process 12,000 tons of ore per day, yielding an annual output of about 15 tons of gold. Total investment exceeds ¥10 billion (≈$1.4 billion USD), and the project is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs.
This discovery further strengthens Laizhou's position as China's leading gold production hub. The city already ranks first nationwide in both reserves and output, and the new subsea mine cements its role as a cornerstone of the country's resource strategy.
The announcement follows another major find last month: Liaoning Geological and Mining Group uncovered the Dadonggou gold deposit in Liaodong, with 1,444 tons of proven gold metal. Together, these discoveries highlight China's accelerating progress in mineral exploration and its growing influence in global resource development.
Laizhou City, located in Shandong Province, is known as one of China's "gold capitals." The region has long been a center of mining and metallurgy, contributing significantly to the country's precious metal output. The discovery of Asia's largest subsea gold mine underscores China's technological advances in deep‑sea exploration and its commitment to securing strategic mineral resources for future economic growth.
