Overview of Fluorspar Ore Deposits & Mining Operations in Mongolia

Overview of Fluorspar Ore Deposits & Mining Operations in Mongolia

I. Resource Distribution & Reserve Base

Mongolia possesses exceptionally rich fluorspar (CaF2) deposits. Over 600 mineralized occurrences and 201 active mining licenses have been cataloged, primarily concentrated in the Eastern and Central regions along a northeast-trending belt (E 101°30'-115°30', N 44°30'-49°50').

Regional Reserves Breakdown

Mongolia’s total fluorspar reserves are estimated at 22 million metric tons (CaF2 contained mineral), accounting for 6.9% of total global reserves and ranking 4th worldwide. Key regional distributions include:

1. Dornogovi Province (East Gobi): Reserves of ~8.44 million tons (2nd largest nationally). Directly borders China, providing significant logistical advantages.
2. Khentii Province: Centered around the Bor-Undur mining district, holding ~5 million tons of reserves, recognized for the highest national ore grade.
3. Sükhbaatar Province: Anchored by the Altan-Ovoo deposit and surrounding reserves, totaling ~3 million tons.
4. Dundgovi Province (Middle Gobi): Characterized by a high density of small-to-medium deposits, totaling ~2 million tons.
5. Other Regions: Scattered minor deposits accounting for ~4 million tons.

Primary Metallogenic Belts

Mongolia’s fluorspar deposits fall into three distinct metallogenic belts, with the Central Mongolia–Erguna Belt representing the primary economic zone for large-scale mining:

1. North Mongolia Belt: Located across Selenge and Bulgan provinces; dominated by small-to-medium hydrothermal deposits.
2. Central Mongolia–Erguna Belt: Traverses Khentii and Dundgovi provinces; serves as the primary producing hub, hosting tier-1 deposits such as Bor-Undur.
3. South Mongolia Belt: Situated across Dornogovi and Ömnögovi provinces; strategically close to the Chinese border with direct transportation connectivity.

II. Ore Quality & Grade Analysis

Run-of-Mine (ROM) Grade Characteristics

Mongolia’s raw fluorspar resources exhibit a wide range of grades, generally defined as "abundant lower-grade deposits with limited high-grade reserves":

Average Grade: ROM CaF2 content typically ranges between 30% and 60%, with exceptional high-grade reserves reaching 70%–90%.

Low-Grade Ore (CaF2 < 50%): Represents ~60% of total national reserves, concentrated in Dornogovi and Dundgovi provinces.

Medium-Grade Ore (CaF2 50%-70%): Represents ~30% of reserves, primarily located in Khentii and Sükhbaatar provinces.

High-Grade Ore (CaF2> 70%): Accounts for only ~10% of global reserves, tightly clustered in core hubs such as Bor-Undur.

Ore Mineralogy

Mongolian fluorspar deposits are predominantly hydrothermal in origin, with quartz-fluorspar forming the principal ore type, alongside minor calcite-fluorspar occurrences.

III. Key Mining Districts & Operational Highlights

Bor-Undur District (Khentii Province)

The landmark fluorspar mining hub in Mongolia, famed for high-grade ore bodies (CaF2 70% in core extraction zones). Processing facilities here produce both acid-grade flotation concentrates and metallurgical-grade lumps, setting the national benchmark for quality.

Altan-Ovoo District (Sükhbaatar Province)

Utilizes Heavy Medium Separation (HMS) pre-concentration technology to reject 30%–40% of gangue waste early in the circuit. This upgrades ROM feed from 45% to over 58% CaF2 prior to milling, significantly reducing downstream energy and grinding costs.

Dornogovi Mining Hubs (Tsagaan Khabchig & Bor Undur Sub-regions)

Key extraction zones situated in Dornogovi Province. Benefiting from direct cross-border rail and highway links to China, this province serves as the central export gateway for Mongolian fluorspar outbound logistics.

Self-Owned Asset Profile: Maohe Import & Export (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.

MAOHE MINING operates two self-owned fluorspar mining bases in Mongolia located in Sükhbaatar and Dundgovi provinces, providing an integrated, stable supply chain for international buyers:

Sükhbaatar Mine: Yields ultra-high-grade natural ore with 90%–99% CaF2 content. This premium direct-shipping ore (DSO) meets the stringent requirements of high-end metallurgical and chemical-grade applications without extensive processing.

Dundgovi Mine: Produces medium-to-high-grade ore at 70%–85% CaF2. Highly cost-effective as a direct metallurgical flux or after basic crushing and screening.

IV. Production Capacity & Export Market Dynamics

Global Supply Position: As the world's 3rd largest producer, Mongolia mined 930,000 metric tons of fluorspar in 2023 (~10.4% of global output), virtually all of which was designated for export. In YTD 2026 (Jan–Apr), cumulative production reached 124,000 tons of raw ore and 52,000 tons of processed concentrate.

Trade Flows: Mongolian exports are highly concentrated, with 81.7% flowing to China and 18.2% to Russia. Land ports such as Erenhot serve as vital cross-border corridors to supply China’s domestic chemical, steelmaking, and new-energy (battery supply chain) sectors.

Seasonal Operational Limits: Due to high-latitude winter conditions, open-pit mining and wet processing operations typically suspend operations by late October due to sub-zero temperatures, introducing seasonal supply constraints through early spring.