China has recorded new advances in mineral resource exploration,including breakthroughs in chromite and unconventional oil and gas,the China Geological Survey(CGS)of the Ministry of Natural Resources said,China Media Group(CMG)reported on Thursday.

A new discovery has been made in the Sartuohai 27 mining group in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,with 20 identified ore bodies and an average grade of 30.73 percent.This marks the largest mining discovery in the region in nearly 40 years,according to the CGS.

Chromite,a scarce strategic mineral in China,is a key element for metals such as cobalt,nickel and tungsten.Its alloys are critical components in aviation,aerospace,automotive manufacturing and shipbuilding industries,CMG reported.

In addition to the newly discovered chromite resources,China has achieved a breakthrough in unconventional oil and gas exploration in Central China's Hubei Province.

Focusing on Permian,which refers to a geological period that lasted from approximately 299-252 million years ago,shale formations,geological teams have successfully obtained industrial gas flows,opening up a new type of unconventional gas-bearing strata.This marks the effective expansion of shale gas exploration from the Sichuan Basin into western Hubei.Newly added shale gas geological resources are estimated at 132.95 billion cubic meters,further strengthening the resource base for a sustained shale gas development hub in the region.