BEIJING, July 7 (RIA Novosti) - Chinese geologists have discovered a large gold deposit at a mine in the country's southwest, the China National Gold Group Corporation reported on Monday.
The Na Neng gold mine in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was previously estimated to have proven reserves of 5 metric tons but detailed prospecting has pushed up this figure to 15 metric tons, China's news agency Xinhua quoted a company spokesman as saying.
China's gold reserves are estimated at 15,000-20,000 metric tons.
In 2007, China mined 270.49 metric tons of gold, 12.67% more than in 2006.
So far this year, China has outpaced the United States to become the world's second largest gold producer after South Africa, Xinhua said.
