The proven reserves of mineral sources in the Tibet Autonomous Region had reached 41 with their potential value being more than one trillion yuan, reported People’s Daily online, mouthpiece of the communist Party of China, May 12.Citing a geological survey coordination meeting conducted by Naque (Tibetan: Nagchu) Administration Department and TAR Geological Survey Bureau, the very brief report said that altogether 102 minerals had been discovered in the TAR.

Mining is a pillar industry in the TAR. Earlier, a People’s Daily online report Mar 9 said, that the mining industry would, by 2020, contribute 30-50 percent to the region’s GDP. A Xinhua report Mar 13 said its current contribution was just about 3 percent.