BEIJING, May 11 -- The Ministry of Land and Resources released Thursday a notice to say it will tighten the exploration of clay and fluorite mines. This is the first time ever the country puts restrictions on the exploration of the mines.

According to the notice, in 2010, 4.5 million tons of clay with high alumina and 11 million tons of fluorite will be explored at maximum.

Also, the notice said that the government will not accept new applications, whether it is prospecting or exploration of the two types of mines.

Zhang Zhan, the head of the China Non-Metallic Minerals Industry Association (CNMIA), said that the Chinese government is tightening the management of the non-metallic minerals industry.

China is one of the countries that are rich in non-metallic minerals, and the reserves of nine kinds of minerals, including graphite, fluorite and talc, top in the world.