China Uncovers Massive Gold Field Worth Rp 1,400 Trillion

A treasure trove of gold lies buried beneath the hills of Pingjiang County in Hunan. China has recently uncovered this massive gold field.

The Hunan Geological Bureau revealed that 40 gold veins have been found deep beneath the hills of Pingjiang County.

“Many rock core samples from drilling show visible gold,” stated Chen Rulin from the Hunan Geological Bureau, quoted from Daily Galaxy on Tuesday (7/4/2026).

The gold is not in microscopic form or chemically bound in other minerals. It appears in samples as flakes and clear concentrations, a physical sign considered unusual by experienced prospectors.

To date, drilling has penetrated more than 65 kilometres across 55 locations. Initial results indicate reserves of 300 tonnes of gold from the first two kilometres of depth.

However, the true potential is much greater. The latest estimates suggest the total deposit could exceed 1,000 tonnes of gold at a depth of three kilometres, with a value reaching 600 billion yuan (Rp 1,400 trillion).

Not only is it vast, but the gold’s quality is also top-class. In one sample from a depth of 2,000 metres, the gold content reached 138 grams per tonne. In contrast, most commercial mines operate at levels below 10 grams per tonne.

Advanced technology such as 3D geological modelling is being used to map this deposit. The discovery of gold in areas around the main site also indicates that reserves could be more extensive than initially estimated.

On the other hand, scientists suspect this phenomenon was triggered by extreme geological activity. A study in the journal Nature Geoscience suggests that seismic pressure can generate electrical charges in rocks, which then trigger rapid gold deposition.

Nevertheless, the Wangu project remains in the exploration stage. The Chinese government emphasises that further verification is needed before confirming the full scale of the deposit.