China may be on the brink of an energy revolution thanks to a newly revealed abundance of thorium, a radioactive metal that could fuel the nation for tens of thousands of years. The heart of this discovery lies in the Bayan Obo mining complex in Inner Mongolia, where a recent national survey uncovered reserves that may vastly exceed earlier estimates, offering a potential solution to the world’s growing energy demands.
A Radioactive Element With Unique Potential
Thorium is a silver-colored element found naturally in the earth’s crust, often as a byproduct of rare earth mining. Unlike uranium, which powers most of the world’s nuclear reactors, thorium cannot directly sustain a nuclear reaction because it is not fissile. However, thorium is classified as “fertile,” meaning it can be transformed into uranium-233, a fissile material, through neutron bombardment inside a molten-salt reactor (MSR).
A Radioactive Element With Unique Potential
Thorium is a silver-colored element found naturally in the earth’s crust, often as a byproduct of rare earth mining. Unlike uranium, which powers most of the world’s nuclear reactors, thorium cannot directly sustain a nuclear reaction because it is not fissile. However, thorium is classified as “fertile,” meaning it can be transformed into uranium-233, a fissile material, through neutron bombardment inside a molten-salt reactor (MSR).
