Core Insights - China possesses abundant rare earth resources, characterized by a distribution of "light in the north and heavy in the south" [1][3] - The Baiyun Obo mine in Inner Mongolia is the largest rare earth resource area in the world, with a total rare earth reserve of 1 million tons, accounting for 83% of China's rare earth resources [11][5] - The production and extraction of rare earth elements in China are concentrated in specific regions, with significant environmental considerations due to the presence of radioactive elements in light rare earth mining [1][12] Distribution of Rare Earth Resources - Light rare earths are primarily found in Inner Mongolia, particularly in Baotou, which is known as the "world capital of rare earths" [3][4] - The total control plan for rare earth products in Baotou for 2023 is set at 179,000 tons for mining products and 163,000 tons for smelting and separation products, representing 70% and 67% of the national total, respectively [3] - Ion-type heavy rare earths are mainly distributed in southern regions such as Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian, with Jiangxi having the largest share of ion-type rare earth resources [7][3] Baiyun Obo Mine Development - The Baiyun Obo mine is located in Inner Mongolia and is managed by Baotou Steel Group, which is the leading enterprise in rare earth production [12][11] - The mine has a proven rare earth oxide reserve of approximately 35 million tons, which is 83% of China's total and 38% of the world's total [12] - The mine also contains significant reserves of iron ore (1.4 billion tons) and fluorite (130 million tons), making it a multi-metal resource area [12]