Gold prices have been hitting historic highs with a slight decline recently due to US-China trade negotiations. In the meantime, China recently announced that it has discovered its largest-ever gold mine, potentially holding over 1,000 metric tons. The discovery, described as a “supergiant” deposit beneath the Wangu gold field, could significantly boost China’s domestic production and reshape the global gold market.
2025 has been the strongest year for gold since 1979, as rates surged to nearly ₹1 lakh per 10 grams earlier this year.
China’s Discovery of a “Supergiant” Gold Deposit
Chinese geologists from the Hunan Provincial Geological Bureau and the Hunan Provincial Institute of Geology identified a vast gold deposit beneath the Wangu gold field in Pingjiang County, Hunan Province.
Early estimates suggest the deposit could hold over 1,000 metric tons of gold, with roughly 300 tons accessible at depths near 2,000 meters. Geological models indicate that gold veins may extend as deep as 3,000 meters – equivalent to the height of three stacked Mount Everests.
🚨 China’s Wangu gold field just revealed a possible world record:
1,100 tons of gold worth $83B buried nearly 2 miles underground.
With gold prices surging past $4k USD, we may see a huge impact on global markets with this discovery! pic.twitter.com/Zrv6J106VB— American Coin & Currency (@americancoinacc) October 15, 2025
Also Read: Donald Trump Justifies 155% Tariff On China As Trade Tensions Rise, Says ‘I Want To Be Nice, But…’
High-Grade Ore, Rich Gold Concentrations Found in Wangu Gold Field
According to Xinhua News, which confirmed the discovery in early October, the findings followed months of underground drilling and detailed geological modeling. The deposit includes more than 40 gold-bearing veins. Chen Rulin, a geological expert from the Hunan Geological Bureau, described the veins as containing “visible gold,” a rare indication of exceptionally high-grade ore.
Yes, the ‘supergiant’ gold discovery in China is real—but not brand‑new. Hunan geologists reported it in Nov 2024 beneath the Wangu gold field. It resurfaced this week as outlets re‑upped the story. Here’s what really happened 🧵 pic.twitter.com/EXJXAnSeIs
— Geoscopy — Geology Explained (@MrGeoscopy) October 19, 2025
Samples from the Wangu deposit revealed gold concentrations of up to 138 grams per ton—considered extraordinarily high. Such rich ore allows more gold to be extracted per ton of rock, increasing the deposit’s potential economic value.
The Wangu goldfield lies along fault lines within the Jiangnan orogenic belt, a geologically active zone created by ancient continental collisions. These formations act as natural “highways” for mineral-rich hydrothermal fluids, which deposited gold along continuous fault lines over millions of years.
China The World’s Largest Gold Producer
Mining at depths of 2,000–3,000 meters poses significant technical challenges, including managing extreme rock pressure, high geothermal temperatures, groundwater control, and ensuring sufficient ventilation. Large-scale deep mining projects typically take 10 – 20 years to progress from discovery to full production.
The initial figures for the Wangu gold deposit are based on a “first-pass resource estimate,” providing a preliminary view of potential reserves. These early numbers may change as further drilling, 3D modeling, and ore testing are conducted.
China, already the world’s largest gold producer, consumes far more gold than it mines annually. The Wangu discovery presents an opportunity to strengthen domestic production and enhance China’s position in the global gold market.
Also Read: Gold Price Today: Why Gold Is Falling Sharply, Rates Plunge To 12-Year Low, Analysts Explain
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
