Chinese scientists have uncovered a deposit of 1 million tons of thorium, estimated to be worth $178 billion

> In a major breakthrough for energy innovation, Chinese researchers have identified vast reserves of thorium in Inner Mongolia’s Bayan Obo mining area—an alternative nuclear fuel with the potential to transform global energy. The discovery, totaling around one million tons of thorium, could supply China’s energy needs **for tens of thousands of years**, offering a sustainable path forward for nuclear power.

> With estimates suggesting this reserve alone could fuel China for up to 60,000 years, experts are calling it a near-limitless resource. Though its estimated market value stands at approximately $178 billion, the true impact of thorium lies in its **efficiency and safety** as a nuclear fuel. Unlike uranium, thorium is **not fissile** on its own but can be converted into uranium-232 through neutron absorption, triggering a reliable chain reaction in specialized reactors.

> What sets thorium apart is its superior safety profile when compared to uranium. Radioactive waste from thorium reactors loses its toxicity within a few hundred years, whereas waste from uranium-235 remains hazardous for millennia. This critical advantage could redefine **public perception** of nuclear energy.

> The thorium fuel cycle also enables a self-sustaining process, as the neutrons produced in transmutation can be reused to process more thorium. This loop increases energy yield and supports long-term sustainability—an attractive proposition for any country facing rising energy demands.

> Still, mining thorium presents environmental concerns. Studies have reported air pollution and radioactive risks in regions surrounding extraction sites. As China moves forward, implementing safer mining practices and environmental protections will be vital.

Mongolia is it’s own separate country right?

So are they gonna bid on the thorium?

The $178 billion understates what switching to Thorium power would do for China. Like Russian Natural Gas was a 100x value leverage for German industries, it would enable China to outpace in AI compute, metallurgy and robot manufacturing. Plus, becoming the world’s first in ultra low pollution manufacturing.

Low energy costs would also solidify their water and food security while allowing their citizens to live higher standards of living

178 billion if you sell it wholesale maybe, but that much of any product flooding the market at a similar time would drive the price down after a little while as it would outmatch the demand

Is that the wholesale value or what they estimate they’d get for it individually packaged and sold on the street?

But seriously, if thorium does go mainstream in reactor tech this is exciting for sure. Right now I’d want more detail on specifics, extraction etc. Seems like we’re well before any large scale rush and extraction for that purpose.

That’s like a drop in the ocean to what Australia has… lol.

Thorium reactor were invented in America but discarded because you can’t bombs out of it.

It’s a well known deposit of rare earths with a few hundred ppm thorium

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01776#MOESM1

And the thorium’s “value” is entirely in the cost of extracting it, not ore rarity.

I am not a nuclear physicist, but as I understand it thorium itself doesn’t produce much radioactivity, but rather when hit with slow moving neutrons it will transmute over a few stages into a specific isotope of uranium called uranium-233, which then is used to generate power. The reaction is self replicating, so only thorium would need to be added to the reactor to refuel it.

Apparently the byproducts of U233 fission are easier to deal with that of U235 that traditional reactors use, making it ‘safer’.

the [https://www.info-culture.com/](https://www.info-culture.com/) domain was registered 5 days ago…. ya mods you can delete this garbage now.