Exploitation of mineral resource and its influence on regional development and urban evolution in Xinjiang, China

doi:10.1007/s11442-014-1143-x

Abstract

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between mineral resources exploitation and economic and urban development in Xinjiang. The article summarizes the mineral resource exploitation development of Xinjiang especially over the last 50 years, and investigates energy industries and their driving forces, directions, and economic impact on the oasis urban system evolution in Xinjiang. Methods like correlation analysis, location quotient and elastic coefficient are employed in the presentation and discussion, and also field reconnaissance surveys, interviews and secondary sources are used. The result shows Xinjiang’s economic growth is promoted by the contributions of the increasing mineral resource industry which promotes economic development by accelerating infrastructure construction, developing industry and raising revenue and fixed investment. Mineral exploitation in recent years had profound impacts on urban development as a growth engine. The evolution of urban system has a close relationship with resource exploitation, and statistical results provide strong evidence to support the argument that mineral resource exploitation has promoted the growth of built-up areas and its expansion patterns in Xinjiang, especially regions along the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains.

Key words: exploitation of mineral resource, oasis city development, Xinjiang

Wen DONG, Yu YANG. Exploitation of mineral resource and its influence on regional development and urban evolution in Xinjiang, China[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2014, 24(6): 1131-1146.

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Index	Gross industrial output value of mineral resources	GDP	Per capita GDP	Gross industrial output value	Fixed investment	Investment of capital construction	Revenue
Gross industrial output value of mineral resources	1.000
GDP	0.990	1.000
Per capita GDP	0.993	0.999	1.000
Gross industrial output value	0.986	0.994	0.994	1.000
Fixed investment	0.973	0.993	0.987	0.985	1.000
Investment of capital construction	0.960	0.984	0.978	0.977	0.996	1.000
Revenue	0.949	0.969	0.960	0.963	0.976	0.969	1

Sector	Number of enterprises (unit)	Gross industrial output value (at current prices)	Annual average employed persons (person)	Total profit	Total profits and taxes
Mining and washing of coal	115	2347353.4	59104	319905.8	619285.2
Extraction of petroleum and natural gas	5	13736414	77384	5845595.9	8352044.9
Mining and processing of ferrous metals ores	66	1216929.3	12316	201429.1	333341.5
Mining and processing of nonferrous metals ores	33	626231.1	8769	222087.3	302772.6
Mining and processing of nonmetal ores	22	157574.7	3604	10016.5	28540.9
Oil processing, coking and nuclear fuel processing	92	16731305	46489	-189190.3	1766075.7
Raw chemical material and chemical products	131	5155131.1	58208	636413.1	848407.5
Manufacture of nonmetal mineral products	294	3187246.6	56240	177575.6	310001.6
Smelting and pressing of ferrous metals	73	7407811.5	44009	38757.1	189149
Smelting and pressing of nonferrous metals	35	2402504.4	17862	109927.5	174932.6
Manufacture of metal products	63	767767.2	8314	27541.2	39785.2
Electricity and thermal production and supply	132	6192713.3	55645	428461.8	667311
Gas production and supply	24	360904.1	3786	53648.8	65739

Industry	1995	2000	2010
Mining and washing of Coal	1.751	1.505	2.200
Extraction of petroleum and natural gas	15.965	10.106	37.291
Mining and processing of ferrous metals ores	1.351	1.730	4.728
Mining and processing of nonferrous metals ores	0.836	0.633	3.914
Mining and processing of nonmetal ores	1.261	1.122	1.499
Oil processing, coking and nuclear fuel processing	2.479	3.319	13.764
Raw chemical material and chemical products	0.559	0.366	2.136
Manufacture of nonmetal mineral products	1.042	1.168	2.069
Smelting and pressing of ferrous metals	0.683	0.685	3.449
Smelting and pressing of nonferrous metals	1.129	0.633	0.798
Manufacture of metal products	0.582	0.421	0.786
Electricity and thermal production and supply	0.721	1.072	2.699
Gas production and supply	0.398	0.511	2.021

Rack	City	1990	2012	Annual growth rate (%)	Main growth impetus
Rack	City	(million yuan)	(million yuan)	Annual growth rate (%)	Main growth impetus
1	Urumqi City	43.45	200173.9	49.43	Petroleum, petrifaction
1	Urumqi City	43.45	200173.9	49.43	Tertiary industry
2	Karamay City	92.57	81070.54	38.07	Petroleum, petrifaction
3	Korla City	29.76	59141.47	43.57	Petroleum, petrifaction
4	Changji City	23.7	26036.09	39.57	Secondary and tertiary industries
5	Hami City	659.63	20943.76	17.90	Petroleum, petrifaction
6	Shihezi City	29.01	20819.34	36.77	Secondary industry
7	Aksu City	901.57	16253.36	14.76	Primary industry
8	Usu City	500	15345.88	17.71	Primary industry
9	Shanshan County	15.53	14083.43	38.30	Petroleum, petrifaction
10	Shawan County	648.76	13945.24	15.73	Secondary industry

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