In the Qitianling Mountains, located at the border of Zhangzhou City in Hunan Province and Guangdong Province, lies a rich tin ore belt with significant reserves. Since the 1990s, a wave of prospectors from across China flocked to this high-altitude area, driven by the dream of quick wealth. Over the years, while many individuals became millionaires or even billionaires, the region has also faced severe environmental degradation. Reports have surfaced about illegal mining activities in the Tongyanjing tin area in Quzhou City's Beihu District, where operations lacked proper permits and safety licenses. Conflicts between miners and the Yitin Mine Company in Yizhang County escalated, involving violent confrontations with weapons like guns and knives. The pollution caused by these activities has severely affected drinking water sources in downstream villages and Yizhang County.
China is one of the world’s largest producers of tin, with vast reserves and a long history of extraction. Tin deposits are found in 15 provinces, with Hunan holding 362,500 tons, accounting for 8.9% of the national total. While production is mainly concentrated in Yunnan and Guangxi, Hunan ranks third in tin output, home to key mines such as Xianghualing, Xiangdong, Yaogangxian, and Rucheng. Although some tin concentrate is recovered, the industry faces challenges due to unsustainable practices.
The local government and private operators often bypass regulations, leading to uncontrolled exploitation. In the Qitianling Mining Area, Bozhou City and the North Lake District Government auctioned mining rights without proper assessments or licenses, setting an arbitrary starting price of 10 million yuan. Bidders colluded behind the scenes, turning what should be a transparent process into a covert operation. After the auction, no strict oversight was applied to ensure legal mining practices, allowing unchecked exploitation and subcontracting. This lack of regulation led to widespread environmental damage and social unrest.
The consequences have been devastating for local communities. Rivers have been polluted, crops have failed, and ancestral lands have been ruined, affecting future generations. Despite national regulations on tin resource management, local governments prioritize short-term financial gains, enabling illegal mining and large-scale exploitation. This has sparked growing tensions and deepened conflicts among residents.
Underlying causes include reckless resource exploitation and inefficient utilization. Tin accounts for only 12% of China’s mineral resources, yet it is the main component in 66% of reserves, with associated minerals making up 22%. These include copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, antimony, molybdenum, and more. However, in areas like Qitianling, which holds over 160,000 tons of polymetallic reserves, only tin is actively mined, while other valuable metals are discarded. This waste of state resources is largely ignored.
Experts emphasize that tin plays a critical role in defense, industry, and technology, with rising global demand. China has built a strong tin industry, producing nearly 60,000 tons annually and refining 57,000 tons, meeting domestic needs and exporting surplus. However, as easily accessible sand tin declines, primary tin mines—often containing multiple useful elements—become more important. Improving mining techniques, increasing efficiency, and enhancing recovery rates are essential for sustainable development.
To address these challenges, comprehensive research and better policies are needed to ensure responsible and efficient use of tin resources, protecting both the environment and the long-term interests of the nation.
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