"Over 20 Times More Than Overseas": 104.5 Million Tons of Rare Mineral Discovered in Yeongdong, Korea

Overwhelming Scale Compared to Major Overseas Deposits

Highlights Potential as a Globally Significant Resource

A recent survey has found that approximately 100 million tons of illite are estimated to be deposited in the Yeongdong region of North Chungcheong Province. This amount is more than 20 times larger than major overseas deposits, making it noteworthy in terms of industrial utility and economic value.

Illite raw stone. Yeongdong-gun

According to Yeongdong-gun on April 21, the county commissioned the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources to conduct a regional geological survey from 2024 until recently. The results showed that the total reserves of illite are estimated at approximately 104.5 million tons.

This is more than 20 times greater than the large illite deposits confirmed abroad, such as in China (approximately 5 million tons), and is considered a rare, large-scale deposit even by global standards.

Illite is a mineral resource with properties such as heavy metal adsorption, far-infrared radiation, antibacterial effects, deodorization, and organic matter decomposition, making it useful across various industries. It has been used as a building material, ceramic raw material, and animal feed additive. More recently, its applications have expanded to include environmental purification materials, cosmetics, and health functional product ingredients.

The survey found that illite is widely distributed along the southeastern shear zone of the Yeongdong Fault, including Jugok-ri and Sanik-ri in Yeongdong-eup, and Jukchon-ri and Gadong-ri in Yanggang-myeon. Notably, about 70% of the total reserves fall within the high-grade range (40–45%) that holds significant industrial value, and most of it is considered minable, which further enhances its economic potential.

Since securing mining rights in 2017 for 15 mining districts in the area (about 2,030 hectares), Yeongdong-gun has been utilizing the resource for the production of various products in fields such as cosmetics, fertilizers, building materials, and animal feed.

An official from the county stated, "In most areas, including Jugok-ri and Sanik-ri, illite content with industrial utility has been confirmed," adding, "We plan to use the survey results as a basis for establishing illite standardization and certification systems."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.