China Finds Pure Quartz in Tibet, Raising Chip Supply Stakes

Chinese researchers say leucogranite in Tibet's Dinggye area could produce high-purity quartz with silica content above 99.995%, according to a study published in the European Journal of Mineralogy on April 30, 2026. The Times of India reported on June 14, 2026, that the finding could support China's chip and solar supply chains, which rely on high-grade quartz for silicon ingots, polysilicon and precision components. The study tested samples from the Ama Drime Massif and found purified quartz sands reaching 99.996% and 99.995% SiO2, pointing to a potential new source for China's strategic supply.