Julong mine, China
Name of the Mine
Julong mine.
Location
Maizhokunggar County, Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region, Tibet, China.
Mine Owner/s
Tibet Julong Copper Co, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group.
Brief Description
Julong is set to be China’s largest copper mine by mining and processing scale, and the largest copper mine commissioned globally this century.
If Phase 3 of the mine is approved, it will become the world’s largest copper mine by mining and processing scale, with the lowest grade and the highest elevation.
Brief History
Zijin Mining Group acquired 50.1% equity interest in Julong Copper in 2020.
In 2021, Julong Copper used the mining right permits of the Qulong copper and polymetallic mine, and the Zhibula copper and polymetallic mine; the exploration right licence of Rongmucuola; and certain machinery, equipment and other movable properties as collateral for a secured syndicated loan from six financial institutions for the construction of the Julong Copper project.
Zijin Mining Group acquired Zangge Mining in April 2025, and upon the completion of the acquisition, the equity interest in Julong Copper increased from 50.1% to 58.16%.
Primary Metals/Minerals
Copper.
Secondary Metals/Minerals
Silver and molybdenum.
Geology/Mineralisation
Jukong is an ultralarge porphyry copper/molybdenum deposit, with low ore grades.
Reserves
Total proven and probable reserves as at December 31, 2025, were estimated at 19.45-million tonnes grading 0.28 g/t gold.
Resources
Julong had total mineral resources of contained copper, as at December 31, 2025, of 25.68-million tonnes grading at 0.29%; silver at 15 000 t; and molybdenum at 1.68-million tonnes.
Type of Mine
Openpit.
Mining Method
Flotation.
Major Infrastructure/Equipment
Not disclosed.
Prospects
Zijin is developing and refining plans for Phase 3 of the Julong mine. Planning of Phase 3 of the project is being accelerated. If approved, it is expected to ultimately achieve ore mining and processing volume of about 200-million tonnes a year and an yearly mine-produced copper production of 600 000 t, making it the copper mine with the largest mining and processing scale, with the lowest grade and at the highest altitude in the world.
Contact Details
Zijin Mining Group
Tel +86 0597 3833105
Email zjky@zjky.cn
Website https://www.zijinmining.com/
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation

















