Accessibility Assessment of the Iron Deposits on the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau: Integrating Transport Networks, Economic Dynamics, and Ecological Constraints

The Qinghai–Xizang Plateau (QXP) is the highest plateau on Earth, with a significant quantity of iron resources that significantly contribute to regional economic development in Western China. However, the exploitation of these iron deposits on the QXP is confronted with dual challenges. The complex geography and weak infrastructure lead to inadequate transport accessibility, while the strict ecological regulations and stringent environmental protection policies further complicate resource development. This study focuses on the transport accessibility issues related to iron deposits on the QXP, aiming to assess the suitability for regional iron resource development. This study conducts a comprehensive, multidimensional analysis encompassing the spatial distribution of iron deposits, the characteristics of the transport network, and economic dynamics. Based on these analyses, an integrated suitability evaluation model is developed to assess the accessibility of iron deposits on the QXP. The results indicate that the transport accessibility of iron deposits on the QXP displays obvious spatial disparities. The deposits on the western QXP exhibit lower accessibility due to the remoteness from major economic centers and underdeveloped transport infrastructure. In contrast, the deposits on the eastern QXP, which are closer to transportation and economic centers, show greater development potential. Additionally, this study innovatively incorporates economic dynamics and ecological protection factors into the transport accessibility evaluation framework, revealing the coupling relationship between the transport conditions, economic patterns, and mineral resource development potential. It provides scientific evidence for the balancing of resource development and environmental protection in ecologically sensitive areas. The findings could contribute to optimizing the iron resource development strategies on the QXP and provide theoretical support for future regional infrastructure planning.