China has discovered huge resources of vital minerals buried in the Tibetan plateau, locating more than 600 potential sites for new mines, AFP reported. The Tibetan plateau has reserves of 30 to 40 million tons of copper, 40 million tons of lead and zinc and several billion tons of iron ore, according to a survey published by state media. China plans to develop new mines in the future to relieve the strain on China's existing resources. More than half of the plateau's 2.6 million square kilometers still remain to be surveyed, but many of the area's mineral reserves have been deemed out of reach as the plateau is located at an average 4,300 meters above sea level.
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