Bayan Obo mining district, Inner Mongolia — discovery, development, and output (1950s–present)

1. Bayan Obo identified as an iron deposit

   Jan 1, 1927Labels: Bayan Obo, Iron ore

   • ScienceDirect
   • Bayan Obo

2. Rare earth minerals reported at Bayan Obo

   Jan 1, 1936Labels: Bayan Obo, Rare earths

   • Bayan Obo

3. Systematic exploration expands during the 1950s

   Jan 1, 1950Labels: Baotou Bayan, PRC exploration

   • ScienceDirect

4. Baotou Iron and Steel Company founded

   Jan 1, 1954Labels: Baotou Iron, Baogang Group

   • Baotou Steel

5. Baogang tailings dam construction begins

   Jan 1, 1955Labels: Baogang tailings, Tailings dam

   • Tailings Dam

6. Niobium-bearing ores recognized at the deposit

   Jan 1, 1958Labels: Niobium, Bayan Obo

   • Bayan Obo

7. Bayan Obo established as a mining district

   Jan 1, 1958Labels: Bayan Obo, Mining district

   • InnerMongolia

8. Ore transport to Baotou enables sustained production

   Jan 1, 1959Labels: Baotou, Rail transport

   • Tailings Study

9. Baogang tailings dam begins operation

   Jan 1, 1965Labels: Baogang tailings, Processing waste

   • Tailings Dam

10. Health and radiation concerns draw government attention

    Jan 1, 1980Labels: Radiation concerns, Public health

    • Tailings Study

11. China introduces rare earth export quotas

    Jan 1, 1999Labels: China policy, Export quotas

    • Intereconomics

12. NASA images document major mine growth since 2001

    Apr 21, 2012Labels: NASA imagery, Open-pit mines

    • NASA VisibleEarth
    • NASA EarthObs

13. WTO dispute launched over China’s export restrictions

    Jul 23, 2012Labels: WTO dispute, China export

    • WTO DS431

14. China begins northern rare earth industry consolidation

    Dec 31, 2014Labels: China North, Baogang Rare

    • ChinaDaily

15. China removes export quotas and duties after WTO rulings

    May 20, 2015Labels: WTO ruling, Trade policy

    • WTO DS431

16. 2024 quotas highlight continued state control of output

    Aug 21, 2024Labels: MIIT quotas, Production control

    • MiningTech
    • RawMaterials