Review of the national geographical exploration work in 2013
Source: www.mlr.gov.cn Citation: www.chinamining.com.cn Date: Jan. 02, 2014
Editor’s note: 2013 was the end of the first stage (2011-2013) of the Prospecting Strategic Action. Trough three years’ unremitting efforts, geologists submitted satisfactory answers to our nation and people. Not only have the work of the first stage been completed according to the schedule, but also have achieved the goals that the uranium and tungsten mines would be finished 5 years in advance (from 2011 to 2015), the molybdenum and nickel mines would be finished 8 to 10 years in advance (from 2011 to 2020).
In 2013, with reality, each province has made positive exploration on encouraging and attracting social capital investment, the distribution of the results and profits of prospecting, incentive policy of prospecting, supporting the reform and development of the geological prospecting units and coordinating the external environment of the reconnaissance. At the same time, depending on the innovation of the concept, institution and science and technology, geologists got fruitful results in the ending year of the first stage of the Prospecting Strategic Action: from the classified reform of the geological prospecting units to the construction of the exploration risk capital markets, from the prospecting breakthrough of the old mining areas to the discovery of the new areas, from the in-depth advancing of the package exploration to the overseas mineral resources base which established by the enterprises under the guidance of the “Out-going” strategy. The consensus from all parties effectively promoted the implementation of the Prospecting Strategic Action. The achievement of the exploration have provided resource guarantee for our country’s economic and social development.
The approval of Shanxi Province’s shale gas geological survey and evaluation project
In January, the project “Shanxi Province’s shale gas geological survey and evaluation” applied by the Shanxi Coal Geological Bureau had been approved by the Shanxi Province Development and Reform Committee. This project emphasized the research of the spatial development and comprehensive features of the effective source rock and container rock of the shale gas and sand gas in the valuable stratum in Shanxi Province, analyzed resource distribution and storage of shale gas and sand gas in Shanxi and studied the appropriate exploration methods fitted the condition of the gas reservoir of the shale gas and sand gas in Shanxi.
Comment: In recent years, “shale gas” is a hot word. The resource-rich areas are active in exploiting. As a resource-rich province, Shanxi is no exception. Exploiting shale gas is a systems engineering, they should use the advanced technology and experience from China and abroad for reference, build a cooperation platform and integrate scientific and technological resources. In the meantime, scientific and technical personnel should free their minds, look around and devote themselves to meeting the government’s needs, improving services and setting up scientific research project.
The first batch of potassic salt ore core got to the Nation’s Geological Sample Center
On February 3rd, the first batch of potassic salt ore core arrived at the nation’s geological material date center safely. The rock core came from the Da Qaidam Town which was located in the north rim of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province and was formed by the potassic salt ore general survey project which supported by the Qinghai Geological Exploration Fund. This time, one drill was in Gas Hure mining area and the other in Nanbaxian mining area. The total footage was 2503.5 meters, the total length of the rock core was 1857 meters.
Comment: Qaidam Basin is located in the north of the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau and formed in Jurassic Period. It is our nations typical mainland sylvite basin, and seldom abroad. The exploration of the rock core has great influence on studying the sedimentary environment, analyzing the formation of potassic salt ore, completing metallogenic theory and guiding the future prospecting.
Start of the classification and reform of public institutions of Guangdong Geological Bureau
On February 28th, the mobilization meeting of the classification and reform of public institutions of Guangdong Geological Bureau was held in Guangzhou, which symbolizing the start of the classification and reform of public institutions. This reform intensified the function of “livelihood geology” which emphasizing geological prospecting and disaster prevention and control. For this purpose, the bureau adjusted and set up Guangdong Geological Survey and four more public benefit first class geological exploration units (others were second class). According to the indication of reform document, integrating two geological teams in one city into one integrated team. The original ten geological teams which started with number 7 changed their names. They were named “Guangdong Geological Bureau No. 1 to No.10 Geological Team”. Combined with Shenzhen Geological Bureau and Foshan Geological Bureau, all of them hung out the shingle “Geological Disaster Emergency Rescue and Technical Center”. They followed the management system “co-managed by province and city and province is main”. This measure was unprecedented and it was the highlight of the reform.
Comment: The implementation of “separation of enterprise from public institutions”, the classification and reform of Guangdong Geological Bureau and the innovation and intensification of system and mechanism of geological teams will improve the level and capacity of geological teams in serving local economic development, then promote sound and rapid development of geological work.
The first “top one hundred” geological prospecting units
In April, the rank of the first “top one hundred” was audited and examined by the sorting steering committee of Minerals Exploration Branch of China Mining Association which meant the birth of the first “top one hundred” geological prospecting units. There were 74 mineral exploration geological teams, 13 hydrogeology teams and 13 professional exploration technology service teams in the list of “top one hundred”. Another 15 geological teams get rankings in geological drilling. This ranking was protocolled to be held biennially.
Comment: The “top one hundred” geological teams ranking contributed to push forward reform, establish a new style of the industry, optimize work environment. It was also conducive to disseminating geological exploring industry, winning market and improving core market competitiveness of the geological exploring units. It benefited nation, people and geological exploring units.
The accomplishment of nation’s fully equipped areas drilling distribution diagram
In April, the nation’s fully equipped areas drilling distribution diagram and drilling catalog which compiled by the “nation’s geological drilling basic information check” project of Nation’s Land and Resources Geological Sample Center has been accomplished. The catalog gathered 71 non-uranium fully equipped areas drilling distribution diagram and drilling catalog which announced by Ministry of Land and Resources. It involved Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Chongqing, Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang and a total of 23 provinces (municipality and city). It had 24 volumes in all, including 76980 drilling information.
Comment: This achievement visually showed the current distribution status and characteristics of distribution of the fully equipped areas drilling, as well as the geological working level and research results, providing reliable basic information for the overall planning, unified deployment and a reasonable and orderly new drilling work.
Startup of the Guangxi Province “twelfth-five” rural drinking water safety and drilling project
In May, Guangxi Province “twelfth-five” rural drinking water safety and drilling project started. Engineering technicians from 17 geological exploration units went to operation points. In accordance with the plan, in 2014, geological exploration institutions would dig 1750 wells in rural areas and solve 100 million people’s drinking safety problem.
Comment: Geological exploration units in Guangxi made good use of their advantages and took part in livelihood projects actively. They contributed their efforts to the improvement of rural inhabitable environment, renewal of water quality, development of rural ecology, growth in living standard and harmony of the society.
A super-large gold mine was explored in Xinjiang
In mid-May, geological workers evaluated a super-huge gold mine with gold reserves of 53 tones in Xinyuan County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It was a new breakthrough since the No.1 Regional Survey Team of Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration Development found Axi gold mine in 1988. This new gold mine was one of the major projects of “358 plan”. And the project was carried out by the No.1 Regional Survey Team.
Comment: This newfound gold mine is the biggest in western Tianshan area and situated in the same minerogenetic province with many large and supersized gold miners in Central Asian countries. As extension of the “Central Asian gold belt” within China, it had favorable minerogenetic condition and hopeful prospecting potential. At the same time, alterated rocks prospecting opened up new direction in western Tianshan Narat area.
A world-class supersized tungsten ore was found in Jiangxi Province
On May 26th, Jiangxi Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration Development declared after finding the supersized tungsten ore in southwest Jiangxi, they found another world-class supersized tungsten ore in Zhuxi diggings, Fuliang County, northeast Jiangxi. They penetrated the maximum ore body thickness to 449 meters. The highest grade of the tungsten ore reached up to 8%, average grade was between 0.64% and 0.65%, amounted to five times the industrial grade and penetrated almost 30 meters thick copper ore. It was estimated that the amount of tungsten and copper exceeded 100 million tons, achieved large scale.
Comment: The south Jiangxi area is known as “The City of Tungsten” for its abundant tungsten resources. But on account of exploiting, the tungsten reserves continue to decline. The breakthrough in Zhuxi diggings makes the south, northeast and northwest Jiangxi a situation of tripartite confrontation, and enhances our nation’s position of tungsten resources in the world.
Three Inner Mongolia geological exploration units established mining group
In June, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Bureau of Geology and Mining, Nonferrous Metal Geological Exploration Bureau and Coalfield Geology Bureau established Inner Mongolia Mining Limited Liability Company. This company was a departmental level unit authorized by autonomous region government. High starting point, high standard, high efficiency and large scale, clustering, capitalization are its goal. Its characteristics are new system, new mechanism, new science and technology, new construction and new culture. Then it integrated mineral resources exploration and development, and developed simultaneously resources industrialization and capitalization.
Comment: Institutions and enterprises have not been separated totally, fully market-oriented mechanism have not been built, so just as other geological exploration units, the anti-risk capability of Inner Mongolia geological exploration units are not strong enough. Establishing mining group contributes to deepening geological exploration reform, growing mining industry economy and promoting the economic and industrial advantages of the mining resources in the autonomous region.
The regularity of ore formation and forecasting project results of Daying uranium ore passed acceptance
In July 1st, the regularity of ore formation and forecasting project results of Daying uranium ore passed acceptance by expert group, setting an example of combining geological mineral exploration research with production. This special research project was built for Daying uranium ore exploration by Center Geological Exploration Fund of Ministry of Land and Resources. Its main purpose was studying the sequence of ledge, setting up marker bed, researching the sand body’s distribution and interlayer oxidized zone’s development characteristics of target stratum, confirming forward line’s location of interlayer oxidized zone, building metallogenic model and regional prospecting model, enriching leachable sandstone-type uranium ore prospecting theory and guiding this type’s uranium ore prospecting.
Comment: Daying uranium ore prospecting project is a productive project which arranging scientific research project as well and making them combined tightly and form a win-win situation. This is a pioneering work of our nation’s current project management system as well as one of the six innovations of Daying uranium ore prospecting management. Due to a series of innovations, Daying uranium ore becomes a successful example of high efficiency, low cost and big result.
Major breakthrough in our nation’s uranium drilling
On July 17th, China National Nuclear Corporation announced in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province, the first scientific drilling of our nation’s uranium ore refreshed the old record 1200 meters with 2818.88 meters. In addition, the drilling equipments were researched and developed independently, and their digitalization and intellectualization filled gaps in this area. In the matter of drilling technology, we found polymetallic ore including uranium, lead, zinc and copper, and set up rock core mineralization alteration hyperspectral technology for the first time.
Comment: The breakthrough fills in gaps in our nation’s deep uranium ore prospecting technology and has a profound impact on improving guarantee degree of domestic natural uranium and meeting the need of the development of nuclear power. Continental scientific drilling is known as “telescope deep inside the Earth”. For so long, the prospecting depth of uranium ore in our nation was less than 500 meters and had a big gap in prospecting technology compared with France, Germany, Canada and other nations. This breakthrough expends our uranium prospecting space to a large extent.
Two rare rubidium production regions were found in Guangdong Province
On July 18th, prospecting breakthrough strategic action report meeting was held by Department of Land and Resources of Guangdong Province. Reporter learned that after three years of efforts, Guangdong Province found two rare rubidium production regions in Zijin County and Jiaoling County which located in southern Guangdong section of Wuyi Mountain metallogenic belt. It estimated that the total of rubidium resources reach up to more than 3.6 million tons.
Comment: Up to now, 19 orefields have rubidium resource 1.85 million tons, but most of them cannot be utilized. The estimated quantity of rubidium resources in these two regions are 1000 times and 800 times the standard of nation’s large mineral deposits. And they also have high recovery rate. Rubidium is a type of white waxy alkali metal with soft texture and light weight. The outermost electrons of rubidium atoms are unstable, so they can be easily emitted. According to this feather, scientists invented MHD generation and thermoelectric generation. This new discovery will contribute to a great technical revolution of our nation’s power technology and energy utilization.
A super-sized gold and zinc ore was found in Xinjiang
In July, a piece of good news came from Dunde which is located in deep Mountain Tianshan: Dunde iron ore ranked among large iron ores with 187 million tons of iron resource. At the same time, gold and zinc resources were also found in Dunde. The total amount of gold reached 50 tons and zinc was 1.5 million tons. Both of them were big deposits. The director of Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Zeng Xiaogang said:” In Xinjiang, it is the first time we find three kinds of minerals in one ore body and the amount of resources are all large-scale.”
Comment: Dunde diggings are located in eastern Awulale metallogenic belt in western Tianshan. It is a volcanic rock zone extending 400 thousand kilometers and containing astonishing mineral resources. The quantity of iron resources in Awulale polymetallic metallogenic belt can provide iron to iron and steel enterprises in Xinjiang for 30 years. The breakthrough in prospecting gold, zinc and other mineral resources makes this metallogenic belt play a more important role in supporting economic and social development of Xinjiang.
Our nation will build important geological drillings database
In August, Ministry of Land and Resources implemented Notice on Building Important Geological Drillings Database, deciding to carry out the work of building important geological drillings database nationwide and finishing it at the end of 2015. The main task include: collecting and sorting data of geological drillings; digitizing the data; building database, setting up service platform and so on.
Comment: Building important geological drillings database mean a great deal to raising efficiency of the service of geological drillings data, developing economy and the Prospecting Strategic Action.
Qinghai Province lode gold mine prospecting project issued and implemented
In September, Qinghai Province Lode Gold Mine Prospecting Project (2013~2020) officially issued and implemented. The project divided Qinghai into northern Kunlun River lode gold mine prospecting target area and the other 7 target areas. The project had two stages: the amount of newly increased gold resource reaching 230 tons from 2013 to 2015 and resource reserve in whole province reaching 650 tons; by 2020, arranging 2 to 3 new gold mine package exploration areas, discovering 5 to 8 medium and large gold resource bases, newly increased gold resource reserve 600 tons and accumulated detected quantity of resource 1250 tons.
Comment: The continuity of gold mine exploration work was affected due to lack of long deployments and specialized and stable geological teams. In recent years, according to strengthen geological exploratory work in eastern Kunlun areas, Dachang, Wulonggou and Walegen gold mines were found. And the eastern Kunlun area became a famous gold metallogenic belt. Qinghai Province promoted researches and appraisals as well as exploration degree by scientifically planning lode gold mine geological exploratory work, hoping to a major breakthrough in gold mine prospecting.
Our nation found gold in siegenite for the first time
In early October, the first detachment of People’s Armed Police Force Gold found a new gold loaded mineral—siegennit, in Jinchang copper-gold deposit of Heilongjiang Province. Jinchang diggings which is a super-sized gold ore exploration base and key scientific research base of the People’s Armed Police Force Gold, is located in southeastern Heilongjiang. In the late twentieth century, the first detachment entered the diggings. By now, 23 ore bodies, 4 mineralization bodies and more than 80 tons of gold reserve with industrial value were explored. Experts say deep Jinchang copper-gold deposit has a good prospective of prospecting and mineral deposit can be enlarged.
Comment: This is the first time in the world that discovering gold in siegennit, and filling in the blanks of gold prospecting field. As gold loaded mineral, siegennit mainly can be found in deep porphyry bodies and average purity of native gold they containing is higher than other gold loaded mineral. This theoretical research proves that gold can mineralize at high temperature and deep stratum, and has theoretical and practical guiding significance for gold prospecting.
Our nation used drones for geophysical prospecting surveying
In October, the project “drones based development of measuring technique and application demonstration of geophysical airborne prospecting integrated station” leaded by Department of Geophysical and Geochemical of China Geological Survey made important progress. According to the self-developed prospecting system, department carried out magnetic and radioactive measurement based on drones in Duobao Mountain in Nenjiang County of Heilongjian Province. The flight altitudes were 180 meters with the scale 1:10000 and 120 meters with the scale 1:50000. Total length of survey lines were 2980 kilometers and controlling area were 200 square kilometers. Production and flight test was accomplished and measured data of high quality was gotten.
Comment: The first success of test production and flight of drones symbolizes an integral and practical low-altitude drones aerial geophysical prospecting integrated exploration system is formed. This will provide technical support for our nation’s mineral resources exploration.
Our nation’s first shale gas venture fund was set up
Chongqing Shunlian Shale Gas Venture Fund was started on October 17th. The initial fund of 250 million Yuan has been collected. It will become the first technical venture fund emphasizing high-tech innovation and investment in shale gas field.
Comment: This fund will invest companies about the research and development, sales, technique, equipment service of shale gas, as well as other energy and resources. It will open a new avenue for shale gas exploration and development in Chongqing.
Construction of our nation’s venture exploration capital market started
During China Mining 2013, Tianjin International Mining Exchange held venture exploration capital market strategic investor signing and ceremony and China dominant minerals spot trading platform launching ceremony. At the ceremony, Tianjin Jiyuan Geological Exploration Limited Liability Company signed the Letter of Intent for Venture Exploration Stock Rights and Financing with Shenzhen Zhongkeyingchuang Investment and Development Company and Jiangxi Mogenli Industrial Limited which symbolizing the start of the construction of our nation’s venture exploration capital market.
Comment: The construction of China’s venture exploration capital market will connect venture exploration enterprises with market, disperse investment risks and improve the standard of market investment and financing.
Ministry of Land and Resources declared to establish the third batch of package exploration areas
To speed up the Prospecting Strategic Action, the Ministry of Land and Resources decided to establish the third batch of package exploration areas including 31 districts and announced list and scope on December 12th.
Comment: According to the “Five Haves” principles which are having large mines, having potential, having plan, having positivity and having safeguard, 31 else districts become national level package exploration areas. The total number of package exploration areas grows to 109, and total area is about 50.55 square kilometers. It is believed that the progress of the third batch of package exploration areas will bring more good news.
The largest strontium deposit in Asia was found in Chongqing
In December, 205 geological team of Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration had breakthrough in Xinglong diggings. They found the largest strontium deposit in Asia with more than 20 million tons of resources. And it was worth about 2 billion Yuan.
Comment: The strontium resources are important strategic mineral resources in the world and play more and more important roles in our national economy. At present, the variety of our nation’s strontium chemical products is single, many downstream products are not available and the abstraction of strontium is in the development stages. In order to fully utilize abundant strontium resources in our nation, we should strengthen researches on applied science and enhance international cooperation.
The Chinalco-Rio Tinto accelerated porphyry copper deposit prospecting
On December 16th, witnessed by Governor of Heilongjiang Province Lu Hao, chairman of Chinalco Company Xiong Weiping and Ke Yan Shu who doubled China Business Group’s Executive Committee member of Rio Tinto Company with CEO of Iron Ore Group, vice-governor of Heilognjiang Province Yu Sha Yan and chairman of Chinalco-Rio Tinto Wang Dongsheng signed cooperation agreement on Handaqi-Sandaowanzi fast break areas package exploration project. The project aimed to accelerate porphyry copper deposit prospecting in package exploration areas.
In the package exploration work, as important strategic investment and main part of package exploration of this project, Chinalco-Rio Tinto will adopt methods of quick start, quick verification, quick breakthrough, quick quit and quick development, fully take advantage of new idea, new technique and new method, speed up exploration, make breakthrough in central and eastern China. With regard to world-class resources, Chinalco-Rio Tinto will input ample resources, insist the concept of “green mining, harmonious development”, advance integration, exploit, construct and operate world first class mineral resources.
Comment: Signing this contract means another reform and innovation of our nation’s prospecting and resource development. It is an important practice of deepening reform of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC which symbolizing a new level of cooperation on resources between Heilongjiang Province, Chinalco Company and Rio Tinto Company, as well as a milestone for Chinalco-Rio Tinto on exploration work in northeastern China.
The largest coal field of Henan Province was found in Shangqiu
A super-sized coal field was found in Shangqiu, Henan Province. On October 5th, Zhang Xingliao, the Chief engineer of Department of Land and Resources of Henan Province said, this was the largest coal field of Henan. The reserve of Pingdingshan was only more than 7 billion. And reserve of the new coal field was three times Pingdingshan coal field. This “black dragon” had 23 billion coal resources.
Comment: Henan is known as a large province. Pingdingshan Group, Shenhuo Group, Zhengzhou Coal Group and Henan Energy and Chemical Industry Group play important roles in the construction of coal exploitation in Henan. However, as non-renewable resources, coal resources become less and less with the exploitation. Under this condition, this super-sized coal field which has 23 billion tons resources, plays an important role in shoring up its position of coal mine province.
45 square kilometers of land in Qinghai Province contained shale gas
In December, the latest prospecting of Qinghai Geology Department showed that Qinghai Province which was located in eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau had abundant shale gas with 45 square kilometers. It took up half area of Qinghai. Neopaleozoic and Mesozoic had wide distribution, thick stratum and a high organic content. They could be seen as one of the important serious of strata of shale gas exploration and research in Qinghai.
Comment: In terms of the goal brought up in the 12th Five-Year Plan, by 2014, proved reserve should reach one trillion cubic meters with annual output of 6.5 cubic meters. Insider said exploration results in our nation exceeded expectation more than once, and the third round shale gas tendering was approaching, our nation were expected to trigger investment and mining boom of unconventional oil and gas again. Once it was exploited successfully, our nation would thoroughly change the situation of energy shortage. (Sun Haoyu) （translated by TLRHVC）
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Editor’s note: 2013 was the end of the first stage (2011-2013) of the Prospecting Strategic Action. Trough three years’ unremitting efforts, geologists submitted satisfactory answers to our nation and people. Not only have the work of the first stage been completed according to the schedule, but also have achieved the goals that the uranium and tungsten mines would be finished 5 years in advance (from 2011 to 2015), the molybdenum and nickel mines would be finished 8 to 10 years in advance (from 2011 to 2020).
In 2013, with reality, each province has made positive exploration on encouraging and attracting social capital investment, the distribution of the results and profits of prospecting, incentive policy of prospecting, supporting the reform and development of the geological prospecting units and coordinating the external environment of the reconnaissance. At the same time, depending on the innovation of the concept, institution and science and technology, geologists got fruitful results in the ending year of the first stage of the Prospecting Strategic Action: from the classified reform of the geological prospecting units to the construction of the exploration risk capital markets, from the prospecting breakthrough of the old mining areas to the discovery of the new areas, from the in-depth advancing of the package exploration to the overseas mineral resources base which established by the enterprises under the guidance of the “Out-going” strategy. The consensus from all parties effectively promoted the implementation of the Prospecting Strategic Action. The achievement of the exploration have provided resource guarantee for our country’s economic and social development.
The approval of Shanxi Province’s shale gas geological survey and evaluation project
In January, the project “Shanxi Province’s shale gas geological survey and evaluation” applied by the Shanxi Coal Geological Bureau had been approved by the Shanxi Province Development and Reform Committee. This project emphasized the research of the spatial development and comprehensive features of the effective source rock and container rock of the shale gas and sand gas in the valuable stratum in Shanxi Province, analyzed resource distribution and storage of shale gas and sand gas in Shanxi and studied the appropriate exploration methods fitted the condition of the gas reservoir of the shale gas and sand gas in Shanxi.
Comment: In recent years, “shale gas” is a hot word. The resource-rich areas are active in exploiting. As a resource-rich province, Shanxi is no exception. Exploiting shale gas is a systems engineering, they should use the advanced technology and experience from China and abroad for reference, build a cooperation platform and integrate scientific and technological resources. In the meantime, scientific and technical personnel should free their minds, look around and devote themselves to meeting the government’s needs, improving services and setting up scientific research project.
The first batch of potassic salt ore core got to the Nation’s Geological Sample Center
On February 3rd, the first batch of potassic salt ore core arrived at the nation’s geological material date center safely. The rock core came from the Da Qaidam Town which was located in the north rim of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province and was formed by the potassic salt ore general survey project which supported by the Qinghai Geological Exploration Fund. This time, one drill was in Gas Hure mining area and the other in Nanbaxian mining area. The total footage was 2503.5 meters, the total length of the rock core was 1857 meters.
Comment: Qaidam Basin is located in the north of the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau and formed in Jurassic Period. It is our nations typical mainland sylvite basin, and seldom abroad. The exploration of the rock core has great influence on studying the sedimentary environment, analyzing the formation of potassic salt ore, completing metallogenic theory and guiding the future prospecting.
Start of the classification and reform of public institutions of Guangdong Geological Bureau
On February 28th, the mobilization meeting of the classification and reform of public institutions of Guangdong Geological Bureau was held in Guangzhou, which symbolizing the start of the classification and reform of public institutions. This reform intensified the function of “livelihood geology” which emphasizing geological prospecting and disaster prevention and control. For this purpose, the bureau adjusted and set up Guangdong Geological Survey and four more public benefit first class geological exploration units (others were second class). According to the indication of reform document, integrating two geological teams in one city into one integrated team. The original ten geological teams which started with number 7 changed their names. They were named “Guangdong Geological Bureau No. 1 to No.10 Geological Team”. Combined with Shenzhen Geological Bureau and Foshan Geological Bureau, all of them hung out the shingle “Geological Disaster Emergency Rescue and Technical Center”. They followed the management system “co-managed by province and city and province is main”. This measure was unprecedented and it was the highlight of the reform.
Comment: The implementation of “separation of enterprise from public institutions”, the classification and reform of Guangdong Geological Bureau and the innovation and intensification of system and mechanism of geological teams will improve the level and capacity of geological teams in serving local economic development, then promote sound and rapid development of geological work.
The first “top one hundred” geological prospecting units
In April, the rank of the first “top one hundred” was audited and examined by the sorting steering committee of Minerals Exploration Branch of China Mining Association which meant the birth of the first “top one hundred” geological prospecting units. There were 74 mineral exploration geological teams, 13 hydrogeology teams and 13 professional exploration technology service teams in the list of “top one hundred”. Another 15 geological teams get rankings in geological drilling. This ranking was protocolled to be held biennially.
Comment: The “top one hundred” geological teams ranking contributed to push forward reform, establish a new style of the industry, optimize work environment. It was also conducive to disseminating geological exploring industry, winning market and improving core market competitiveness of the geological exploring units. It benefited nation, people and geological exploring units.
The accomplishment of nation’s fully equipped areas drilling distribution diagram
In April, the nation’s fully equipped areas drilling distribution diagram and drilling catalog which compiled by the “nation’s geological drilling basic information check” project of Nation’s Land and Resources Geological Sample Center has been accomplished. The catalog gathered 71 non-uranium fully equipped areas drilling distribution diagram and drilling catalog which announced by Ministry of Land and Resources. It involved Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Chongqing, Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang and a total of 23 provinces (municipality and city). It had 24 volumes in all, including 76980 drilling information.
Comment: This achievement visually showed the current distribution status and characteristics of distribution of the fully equipped areas drilling, as well as the geological working level and research results, providing reliable basic information for the overall planning, unified deployment and a reasonable and orderly new drilling work.
Startup of the Guangxi Province “twelfth-five” rural drinking water safety and drilling project
In May, Guangxi Province “twelfth-five” rural drinking water safety and drilling project started. Engineering technicians from 17 geological exploration units went to operation points. In accordance with the plan, in 2014, geological exploration institutions would dig 1750 wells in rural areas and solve 100 million people’s drinking safety problem.
Comment: Geological exploration units in Guangxi made good use of their advantages and took part in livelihood projects actively. They contributed their efforts to the improvement of rural inhabitable environment, renewal of water quality, development of rural ecology, growth in living standard and harmony of the society.
A super-large gold mine was explored in Xinjiang
In mid-May, geological workers evaluated a super-huge gold mine with gold reserves of 53 tones in Xinyuan County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It was a new breakthrough since the No.1 Regional Survey Team of Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration Development found Axi gold mine in 1988. This new gold mine was one of the major projects of “358 plan”. And the project was carried out by the No.1 Regional Survey Team.
Comment: This newfound gold mine is the biggest in western Tianshan area and situated in the same minerogenetic province with many large and supersized gold miners in Central Asian countries. As extension of the “Central Asian gold belt” within China, it had favorable minerogenetic condition and hopeful prospecting potential. At the same time, alterated rocks prospecting opened up new direction in western Tianshan Narat area.
A world-class supersized tungsten ore was found in Jiangxi Province
On May 26th, Jiangxi Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration Development declared after finding the supersized tungsten ore in southwest Jiangxi, they found another world-class supersized tungsten ore in Zhuxi diggings, Fuliang County, northeast Jiangxi. They penetrated the maximum ore body thickness to 449 meters. The highest grade of the tungsten ore reached up to 8%, average grade was between 0.64% and 0.65%, amounted to five times the industrial grade and penetrated almost 30 meters thick copper ore. It was estimated that the amount of tungsten and copper exceeded 100 million tons, achieved large scale.
Comment: The south Jiangxi area is known as “The City of Tungsten” for its abundant tungsten resources. But on account of exploiting, the tungsten reserves continue to decline. The breakthrough in Zhuxi diggings makes the south, northeast and northwest Jiangxi a situation of tripartite confrontation, and enhances our nation’s position of tungsten resources in the world.
Three Inner Mongolia geological exploration units established mining group
In June, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Bureau of Geology and Mining, Nonferrous Metal Geological Exploration Bureau and Coalfield Geology Bureau established Inner Mongolia Mining Limited Liability Company. This company was a departmental level unit authorized by autonomous region government. High starting point, high standard, high efficiency and large scale, clustering, capitalization are its goal. Its characteristics are new system, new mechanism, new science and technology, new construction and new culture. Then it integrated mineral resources exploration and development, and developed simultaneously resources industrialization and capitalization.
Comment: Institutions and enterprises have not been separated totally, fully market-oriented mechanism have not been built, so just as other geological exploration units, the anti-risk capability of Inner Mongolia geological exploration units are not strong enough. Establishing mining group contributes to deepening geological exploration reform, growing mining industry economy and promoting the economic and industrial advantages of the mining resources in the autonomous region.
The regularity of ore formation and forecasting project results of Daying uranium ore passed acceptance
In July 1st, the regularity of ore formation and forecasting project results of Daying uranium ore passed acceptance by expert group, setting an example of combining geological mineral exploration research with production. This special research project was built for Daying uranium ore exploration by Center Geological Exploration Fund of Ministry of Land and Resources. Its main purpose was studying the sequence of ledge, setting up marker bed, researching the sand body’s distribution and interlayer oxidized zone’s development characteristics of target stratum, confirming forward line’s location of interlayer oxidized zone, building metallogenic model and regional prospecting model, enriching leachable sandstone-type uranium ore prospecting theory and guiding this type’s uranium ore prospecting.
Comment: Daying uranium ore prospecting project is a productive project which arranging scientific research project as well and making them combined tightly and form a win-win situation. This is a pioneering work of our nation’s current project management system as well as one of the six innovations of Daying uranium ore prospecting management. Due to a series of innovations, Daying uranium ore becomes a successful example of high efficiency, low cost and big result.
Major breakthrough in our nation’s uranium drilling
On July 17th, China National Nuclear Corporation announced in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province, the first scientific drilling of our nation’s uranium ore refreshed the old record 1200 meters with 2818.88 meters. In addition, the drilling equipments were researched and developed independently, and their digitalization and intellectualization filled gaps in this area. In the matter of drilling technology, we found polymetallic ore including uranium, lead, zinc and copper, and set up rock core mineralization alteration hyperspectral technology for the first time.
Comment: The breakthrough fills in gaps in our nation’s deep uranium ore prospecting technology and has a profound impact on improving guarantee degree of domestic natural uranium and meeting the need of the development of nuclear power. Continental scientific drilling is known as “telescope deep inside the Earth”. For so long, the prospecting depth of uranium ore in our nation was less than 500 meters and had a big gap in prospecting technology compared with France, Germany, Canada and other nations. This breakthrough expends our uranium prospecting space to a large extent.
Two rare rubidium production regions were found in Guangdong Province
On July 18th, prospecting breakthrough strategic action report meeting was held by Department of Land and Resources of Guangdong Province. Reporter learned that after three years of efforts, Guangdong Province found two rare rubidium production regions in Zijin County and Jiaoling County which located in southern Guangdong section of Wuyi Mountain metallogenic belt. It estimated that the total of rubidium resources reach up to more than 3.6 million tons.
Comment: Up to now, 19 orefields have rubidium resource 1.85 million tons, but most of them cannot be utilized. The estimated quantity of rubidium resources in these two regions are 1000 times and 800 times the standard of nation’s large mineral deposits. And they also have high recovery rate. Rubidium is a type of white waxy alkali metal with soft texture and light weight. The outermost electrons of rubidium atoms are unstable, so they can be easily emitted. According to this feather, scientists invented MHD generation and thermoelectric generation. This new discovery will contribute to a great technical revolution of our nation’s power technology and energy utilization.
A super-sized gold and zinc ore was found in Xinjiang
In July, a piece of good news came from Dunde which is located in deep Mountain Tianshan: Dunde iron ore ranked among large iron ores with 187 million tons of iron resource. At the same time, gold and zinc resources were also found in Dunde. The total amount of gold reached 50 tons and zinc was 1.5 million tons. Both of them were big deposits. The director of Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Zeng Xiaogang said:” In Xinjiang, it is the first time we find three kinds of minerals in one ore body and the amount of resources are all large-scale.”
Comment: Dunde diggings are located in eastern Awulale metallogenic belt in western Tianshan. It is a volcanic rock zone extending 400 thousand kilometers and containing astonishing mineral resources. The quantity of iron resources in Awulale polymetallic metallogenic belt can provide iron to iron and steel enterprises in Xinjiang for 30 years. The breakthrough in prospecting gold, zinc and other mineral resources makes this metallogenic belt play a more important role in supporting economic and social development of Xinjiang.
Our nation will build important geological drillings database
In August, Ministry of Land and Resources implemented Notice on Building Important Geological Drillings Database, deciding to carry out the work of building important geological drillings database nationwide and finishing it at the end of 2015. The main task include: collecting and sorting data of geological drillings; digitizing the data; building database, setting up service platform and so on.
Comment: Building important geological drillings database mean a great deal to raising efficiency of the service of geological drillings data, developing economy and the Prospecting Strategic Action.
Qinghai Province lode gold mine prospecting project issued and implemented
In September, Qinghai Province Lode Gold Mine Prospecting Project (2013~2020) officially issued and implemented. The project divided Qinghai into northern Kunlun River lode gold mine prospecting target area and the other 7 target areas. The project had two stages: the amount of newly increased gold resource reaching 230 tons from 2013 to 2015 and resource reserve in whole province reaching 650 tons; by 2020, arranging 2 to 3 new gold mine package exploration areas, discovering 5 to 8 medium and large gold resource bases, newly increased gold resource reserve 600 tons and accumulated detected quantity of resource 1250 tons.
Comment: The continuity of gold mine exploration work was affected due to lack of long deployments and specialized and stable geological teams. In recent years, according to strengthen geological exploratory work in eastern Kunlun areas, Dachang, Wulonggou and Walegen gold mines were found. And the eastern Kunlun area became a famous gold metallogenic belt. Qinghai Province promoted researches and appraisals as well as exploration degree by scientifically planning lode gold mine geological exploratory work, hoping to a major breakthrough in gold mine prospecting.
Our nation found gold in siegenite for the first time
In early October, the first detachment of People’s Armed Police Force Gold found a new gold loaded mineral—siegennit, in Jinchang copper-gold deposit of Heilongjiang Province. Jinchang diggings which is a super-sized gold ore exploration base and key scientific research base of the People’s Armed Police Force Gold, is located in southeastern Heilongjiang. In the late twentieth century, the first detachment entered the diggings. By now, 23 ore bodies, 4 mineralization bodies and more than 80 tons of gold reserve with industrial value were explored. Experts say deep Jinchang copper-gold deposit has a good prospective of prospecting and mineral deposit can be enlarged.
Comment: This is the first time in the world that discovering gold in siegennit, and filling in the blanks of gold prospecting field. As gold loaded mineral, siegennit mainly can be found in deep porphyry bodies and average purity of native gold they containing is higher than other gold loaded mineral. This theoretical research proves that gold can mineralize at high temperature and deep stratum, and has theoretical and practical guiding significance for gold prospecting.
Our nation used drones for geophysical prospecting surveying
In October, the project “drones based development of measuring technique and application demonstration of geophysical airborne prospecting integrated station” leaded by Department of Geophysical and Geochemical of China Geological Survey made important progress. According to the self-developed prospecting system, department carried out magnetic and radioactive measurement based on drones in Duobao Mountain in Nenjiang County of Heilongjian Province. The flight altitudes were 180 meters with the scale 1:10000 and 120 meters with the scale 1:50000. Total length of survey lines were 2980 kilometers and controlling area were 200 square kilometers. Production and flight test was accomplished and measured data of high quality was gotten.
Comment: The first success of test production and flight of drones symbolizes an integral and practical low-altitude drones aerial geophysical prospecting integrated exploration system is formed. This will provide technical support for our nation’s mineral resources exploration.
Our nation’s first shale gas venture fund was set up
Chongqing Shunlian Shale Gas Venture Fund was started on October 17th. The initial fund of 250 million Yuan has been collected. It will become the first technical venture fund emphasizing high-tech innovation and investment in shale gas field.
Comment: This fund will invest companies about the research and development, sales, technique, equipment service of shale gas, as well as other energy and resources. It will open a new avenue for shale gas exploration and development in Chongqing.
Construction of our nation’s venture exploration capital market started
During China Mining 2013, Tianjin International Mining Exchange held venture exploration capital market strategic investor signing and ceremony and China dominant minerals spot trading platform launching ceremony. At the ceremony, Tianjin Jiyuan Geological Exploration Limited Liability Company signed the Letter of Intent for Venture Exploration Stock Rights and Financing with Shenzhen Zhongkeyingchuang Investment and Development Company and Jiangxi Mogenli Industrial Limited which symbolizing the start of the construction of our nation’s venture exploration capital market.
Comment: The construction of China’s venture exploration capital market will connect venture exploration enterprises with market, disperse investment risks and improve the standard of market investment and financing.
Ministry of Land and Resources declared to establish the third batch of package exploration areas
To speed up the Prospecting Strategic Action, the Ministry of Land and Resources decided to establish the third batch of package exploration areas including 31 districts and announced list and scope on December 12th.
Comment: According to the “Five Haves” principles which are having large mines, having potential, having plan, having positivity and having safeguard, 31 else districts become national level package exploration areas. The total number of package exploration areas grows to 109, and total area is about 50.55 square kilometers. It is believed that the progress of the third batch of package exploration areas will bring more good news.
The largest strontium deposit in Asia was found in Chongqing
In December, 205 geological team of Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration had breakthrough in Xinglong diggings. They found the largest strontium deposit in Asia with more than 20 million tons of resources. And it was worth about 2 billion Yuan.
Comment: The strontium resources are important strategic mineral resources in the world and play more and more important roles in our national economy. At present, the variety of our nation’s strontium chemical products is single, many downstream products are not available and the abstraction of strontium is in the development stages. In order to fully utilize abundant strontium resources in our nation, we should strengthen researches on applied science and enhance international cooperation.
The Chinalco-Rio Tinto accelerated porphyry copper deposit prospecting
On December 16th, witnessed by Governor of Heilongjiang Province Lu Hao, chairman of Chinalco Company Xiong Weiping and Ke Yan Shu who doubled China Business Group’s Executive Committee member of Rio Tinto Company with CEO of Iron Ore Group, vice-governor of Heilognjiang Province Yu Sha Yan and chairman of Chinalco-Rio Tinto Wang Dongsheng signed cooperation agreement on Handaqi-Sandaowanzi fast break areas package exploration project. The project aimed to accelerate porphyry copper deposit prospecting in package exploration areas.
In the package exploration work, as important strategic investment and main part of package exploration of this project, Chinalco-Rio Tinto will adopt methods of quick start, quick verification, quick breakthrough, quick quit and quick development, fully take advantage of new idea, new technique and new method, speed up exploration, make breakthrough in central and eastern China. With regard to world-class resources, Chinalco-Rio Tinto will input ample resources, insist the concept of “green mining, harmonious development”, advance integration, exploit, construct and operate world first class mineral resources.
Comment: Signing this contract means another reform and innovation of our nation’s prospecting and resource development. It is an important practice of deepening reform of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC which symbolizing a new level of cooperation on resources between Heilongjiang Province, Chinalco Company and Rio Tinto Company, as well as a milestone for Chinalco-Rio Tinto on exploration work in northeastern China.
The largest coal field of Henan Province was found in Shangqiu
A super-sized coal field was found in Shangqiu, Henan Province. On October 5th, Zhang Xingliao, the Chief engineer of Department of Land and Resources of Henan Province said, this was the largest coal field of Henan. The reserve of Pingdingshan was only more than 7 billion. And reserve of the new coal field was three times Pingdingshan coal field. This “black dragon” had 23 billion coal resources.
Comment: Henan is known as a large province. Pingdingshan Group, Shenhuo Group, Zhengzhou Coal Group and Henan Energy and Chemical Industry Group play important roles in the construction of coal exploitation in Henan. However, as non-renewable resources, coal resources become less and less with the exploitation. Under this condition, this super-sized coal field which has 23 billion tons resources, plays an important role in shoring up its position of coal mine province.
45 square kilometers of land in Qinghai Province contained shale gas
In December, the latest prospecting of Qinghai Geology Department showed that Qinghai Province which was located in eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau had abundant shale gas with 45 square kilometers. It took up half area of Qinghai. Neopaleozoic and Mesozoic had wide distribution, thick stratum and a high organic content. They could be seen as one of the important serious of strata of shale gas exploration and research in Qinghai.
Comment: In terms of the goal brought up in the 12th Five-Year Plan, by 2014, proved reserve should reach one trillion cubic meters with annual output of 6.5 cubic meters. Insider said exploration results in our nation exceeded expectation more than once, and the third round shale gas tendering was approaching, our nation were expected to trigger investment and mining boom of unconventional oil and gas again. Once it was exploited successfully, our nation would thoroughly change the situation of energy shortage. (Sun Haoyu) （translated by TLRHVC）
About CHINA MINING
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