China has discovered its first super-large, low-grade gold deposit in the Dadonggou gold mine in Liaoning province, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Friday. Officials and experts say the find is expected to provide a steady boost to the country's gold supply while supporting local economic development.

The Dadonggou deposit contains an estimated 2.586 billion metric tons of ore with 1,444.49 tons of gold at an average grade of 0.56 grams per ton. Spanning Qingshiling and Tuandian towns, the 31.85-square-kilometer site has been identified as a large-scale, low-grade open-pit deposit.

It has completed all 219 planned drill holes, marking the conclusion of its mineral geological drilling phase, according to the Yingkou city government, where the deposit sits.

During the exploration process, nearly 1,000 employees collaborated to complete the work within just 15 months, setting a new national benchmark for short-cycle and high-quality gold deposit exploration.

The project now advances to comprehensive data analysis and exploration report compilation, it added.

China National Gold Group, Liaoning Mineral Geology Group, and the Yingkou Municipal Government have formed a partnership to develop the mine. From 2024 to 2027, they plan to invest over 20 billion yuan ($2.82 billion) to establish an integrated industry chain in Yingkou, covering exploration, mining, processing, smelting and gold jewelry production.

An approximately 133-hectare industrial park will be constructed, comprising a large smelting zone, a processing zone and a storage and logistics zone.

The Ministry of Natural Resources said the historic find will significantly bolster the country's strategic gold reserves and could lead to a world-class gold production base, supporting the full revitalization and high-quality development of Northeast China.

Wang Yan, a professor of the CPC Shenyang municipal Party school, said: "The mine's more than 1,000 tons of reserves will significantly secure national gold strategic reserves. Its fully integrated industrial chain from production to sales will greatly influence the gold industry in China, enhancing its competitiveness in the global market."

The project embodies high-quality development by integrating green principles throughout its planning, balancing economic, social and ecological benefits.