Top 10 deep and potential mines, are any of them your future targets?
In recent years, with the implementation of projects such as resource exploration for replacement of critical mines and replacement of old mines, deep prospecting and exploration has made a series of important progress. These new discoveries and new achievements have not only overturned the understanding of the mineralization laws and causes of existing ore deposits, promoted scientific research to "advance to the depths", but also provided an important basis for deep mineral resource exploration. This article introduces ten mines that have made important breakthroughs in deep prospecting in recent years, and puts forward suggestions for the next step of deep mineral exploration.
1. Ten mines that have made important breakthroughs in deep prospecting
1. Guangdong Dabaoshan Iron-Copper-Molybdenum Polymetallic Mine
The Dabaoshan Iron-Copper-Molybdenum Polymetallic Deposit is a large-scale ore deposit dominated by iron, copper, lead, zinc, sulfur and molybdenum. Unfortunately, after more than half a century of mining, the resources of the Dabaoshan deposit are almost exhausted, and it is a seriously crisis mine.
After two rounds of prospecting and exploration work, namely, prospecting for replacement resources in crisis mines (2006-2009) and prospecting for replacement resources in old mines (2014), a large-scale porphyry molybdenum ore body and a thick porphyry copper-sulfur ore body were discovered in the deep of Dabaoshan mining area, respectively, which made a major breakthrough in prospecting.
The discovery of porphyry molybdenum and copper-sulfur ore bodies in the deep of Dabaoshan further changed the previous understanding of the genesis of the deposit and provided important clues and basis for the next step of deep prospecting.
2. Luobusa Chromite Mine in Tibet
The Luobusa Chromite Deposit in Tibet is currently the largest chromite deposit in China with a relatively high degree of research and exploration, but after years of mining, the mine has a serious shortage of resource reserves.
Since 2006, through the study of the mineralized structural lithofacies belt and the spatial distribution of ore bodies in the mining area, combined with the comprehensive interpretation of gravity, magnetism and electricity, thick and large concealed ore bodies have been discovered in the deep part of the ore deposit, achieving a major breakthrough in the prospecting of chromite in my country. Drilling data show that in the borehole ZKWT02, a total of 46.28 meters of ore bodies were found at a depth of 286.3 to 341.1 meters, with a Cr2O3 content of more than 50%; in the borehole ZK West 2004, a total of 46.1 meters of ore layers were found at a depth of 334.5 to 426.9 meters, with a Cr2O3 content of about 50%. The Cr-80 single ore body resources found reached 1.15 million tons, becoming the largest chromite ore body discovered in China. In addition, through the implementation of the "kilometer drilling" deep hole ZK East 04, disseminated chromite in the altered and broken zone was found at a depth of 679.5 meters, verifying the existence of a large-scale ore-bearing structural lithofacies belt in the deep.
Through the implementation of deep prospecting and the discovery of deep thick chromite ore bodies, new ideas are provided for the next step of prospecting and exploration of the Luobusa chromite mine and similar chromite deposits in China.
3. Qixiashan Lead-Zinc Mine in Jiangsu
The Qixiashan lead-zinc polymetallic deposit in Jiangsu is located in Qixia Town in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing City, in the Ningzhen ore cluster area of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
From 2012 to 2014, the geological and mineral survey and evaluation project implemented the "Qixiashan Lead-Zinc Mine Successor Resource Exploration in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province" project, and carried out deep prospecting work on the deposit. Based on the study of the silicon/calcium surface-controlled ore and vein-like ore body side-lying rules of the Carboniferous Gaolishan Formation and Huanglong Formation, the project used in-pit drilling to trace and control the extension of the No. 1 main ore body in terms of strike and dip, and discovered new multi-layer thick lead-zinc ore bodies. It is estimated that this work has added 333+334 resources: 581,300 tons of lead and zinc, 7.64 tons of co-existing (associated) gold, 1,113 tons of silver, and 15,300 tons of copper.
The Qixiashan deposit is the largest lead-zinc polymetallic deposit discovered in East China. The new results of deep exploration have not only promoted the research work on the genesis of the deposit and gained new understanding, but also pointed out the direction for the next step of prospecting.
4. Yunnan Lancang Lead Mine
The Lancang Laochang lead-zinc-silver polymetallic deposit in Yunnan Province has always been considered to be a massive sulfide deposit (VMS) built with volcanic rocks as the host or related to volcanic rocks.
Since the implementation of deep prospecting work in the mine in 2006, after the ZK153101 borehole revealed the molybdenum mineralization zone, the ZK14824 and ZK14827 boreholes have revealed deep molybdenum mineralization bodies. Among them, the ZK14827 borehole is 1417.05 meters deep, and the total length of the industrial ore body delineated is 696.25 meters, with an average grade of 0.068%. The ore body is mainly produced in deep hidden porphyry bodies (Himalayan period) and contact zones.
The discovery of deep hidden porphyry bodies and magmatic molybdenum deposits has triggered controversy among scholars on the genetic model of the deposit. The existence of porphyry or magmatic mineralization systems is a fact. If the massive sulfide mineralization system of the Carboniferous period is considered, it should be the superposition of two mineralization systems.
5. Bilihe Gold Mine in Inner Mongolia
Early exploration and research believe that the Bilihe gold deposit is located in the volcanoes, subvolcanoes, pyroclastic rock system and cryptoexplosive breccia of the Late Jurassic Manitu Formation, from basic basalt to intermediate-acidic rhyolite, forming a set of gold-bearing volcanic structures. Among them, altered volcanic rocks, subvolcanic rocks and breccias are the main gold-bearing geological bodies and the direct surrounding rocks of the ore. The main lithologies include andesitic breccia lava, andesitic porphyry breccia lava, diorite porphyry, hydrothermal breccia, altered basaltic breccia, etc. The morphological characteristics of the ore body also show that it is closely related to the volcanic structure.
After deep and peripheral exploration and typical ore deposit dissection research in the mining area, Qing Min et al. believed that the mineralization of the Bilihe gold mine was related to the Hercynian magmatic activity, and the nature of the ore-forming fluid and the spatial output of the ore body were closely related to the shallow granodiorite porphyry. On this basis, they established the "porphyry-tectonic altered rock-shallow quartz vein-type mineralization type integration" mineralization model of the mining field.
6. Weilastuo Tin Polymetallic Mine in Inner Mongolia
The Weilastuo Tin Polymetallic Deposit is located in the southern section of the Greater Khingan Range and was once developed and prospected as a large copper-zinc-silver polymetallic deposit.
In 2013, geologists discovered tin-bearing quartz veins in the biotite plagioclase gneiss in the mining area and its periphery during the exploration process, and then speculated that there may be hidden ore bodies in the deep. The old mine prospecting project implemented in the 2014 geological survey project has initially identified more than 30 ore bodies, among which the No. 1 ore body is the main ore body, which is longer than 700 meters and wider than 300 meters, and generally presents a gentle wave shape; the average thickness of the ore body (apparent thickness) is 5.15 meters, and the average Sn grade is 0.89%; a total of 81,000 tons of tin metal (333 and above) were submitted, achieving a major breakthrough in tin prospecting in the southern section of the Greater Khingan Range.
The southern section of the Greater Khingan Range is an important lead-zinc, silver, copper, and tin polymetallic mineralization belt in my country. The discovery of deep tin polymetallic deposits in the Verasto deposit has not only changed people's previous understanding of the mineralization laws of tin, silver, lead and zinc in the southern section of the Greater Khingan Range, but also will affect the future tin prospecting and exploration ideas in this area, which is of great significance.
7. Sichuan Lala Copper Mine
The Sichuan Lala Copper Mine is located in the middle section of the Yangtze Platform Kangdian axis, which is the intersection of the east-west Jinshajiang fault fold belt and the north-south structural belt of the Sichuan-Yunnan Panxi Great Rift Valley. Lala Copper Mine is an important large copper mine in southwest my country and also the largest copper mine production base in Sichuan Province. The metal minerals in the mine are mainly copper, followed by iron and nickel, and the associated metals are silver, gold, cobalt, molybdenum, platinum, palladium, etc.
Before 2012, 42 major mineral deposits (points) were explored, including 1 large mineral deposit, 4 medium-sized mineral deposits, and the rest were small mineral deposits and mineral points. The cumulative proven copper resources are 1.3 million tons, iron resources are 26 million tons, and nickel resources are 50,000 tons. From 2012 to 2014, the exploration project of the replacement resources of the old mines made a major breakthrough in the exploration of the Hongnipo mining area in the south of the Lala Luotang copper mine, adding 632,200 tons of 333+334 copper resources, achieving a major breakthrough in prospecting.
The major prospecting breakthrough of the Hongnipo copper mine has opened up a vast prospecting space in the Lala area. The discovery of the new mineralized strata has clarified the next prospecting direction of the region and enhanced the prospecting confidence of mining enterprises in "looking for Lala outside Lala", providing a successful experience for reference for the "Lala-style" copper prospecting in the Sichuan-Yunnan nonferrous metal mineralization belt.
8. Jiangxi Xiangshan Uranium Mine
The Jiangxi Xiangshan uranium ore field is located in the northeast section of the Qinhang mineralization belt, the southwest end of the Ganhang terrestrial volcanic uranium mineralization belt, and the southeast side of the Dexing-Suichuan fault. It is an important hydrothermal uranium ore field in my country. Previous research on the Xiangshan uranium ore field focused on the mineralization mechanism of uranium and prospecting prediction, and was mainly concentrated in the shallow part of the ore field. With the implementation of deep prospecting in the mine, multiple deep holes have seen good polymetallic mineralization such as lead, zinc, and copper, and the grade is high, which has reached the value of comprehensive utilization.
For example, the borehole CUSD3 saw lead-zinc-copper mineralization veins and copper polymetallic mineralization veins at a depth of 1095.4~1549.2 meters and 1574.2~1577.5 meters respectively. For another example, the borehole ZK26-101 saw polymetallic mineralization such as lead, zinc, and silver at a depth of about 330 meters. The preliminary estimate of the lead-zinc-silver ore resources is 17,000 tons of Pb, 8,800 tons of Zn, and 76.2 tons of Ag, respectively.
The discovery of deep lead-zinc-copper polymetallic mineralization constitutes the mineralization space model of upper uranium-middle lead-zinc-gold-lower copper in the Xiangshan ore field, which not only deepens the understanding of the mineralization law of the ore field, expands the deep prospecting space, but also opens up regional prospecting ideas.
9. Meishan Iron Mine in Nanjing
According to the mineralization model of porphyry iron ore in the Ningwu area, Meishan-type iron ore is a high-temperature gas-liquid replacement filling deposit and slurry filling deposit above and below the contact zone between the subvolcanic rock body and the volcanic rock, with a combination of diopside-garnet-apatite-magnetite.
In the Meishan Iron Mine successor resource prospecting project implemented in recent years, gold ore bodies were found in the silicified, pyritized, carbonated tuff, sedimentary tuff, and tuff breccia at the top of the Meishan iron ore layer. At the same time, this layer is also a "near-ore indicator alteration zone" commonly found at the top of the Meishan iron ore layer. According to the project results of the Geological Brigade of the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the ZK4101 borehole saw gold mineralization of 15.6 meters at 392.2-407.8 meters, with an average grade of 0.97 g/ton; the ZK4121 borehole saw a gold layer of 8.49 meters at 406.28-414.77 meters, with an average grade of 1.88 g/ton. The preliminary estimate is that the additional 333 gold resources (metal content) are 2.85 tons.
Although the current understanding of the relationship between iron mineralization and gold mineralization needs to be further deepened, this discovery has guiding significance for the prospecting of porphyry iron ore in the Ningwu area.
10. Jilin Jiapigou Gold Mine
The Jiapigou Gold Mine is located on the northern edge of the North China Craton and is a crisis mine with almost exhausted resources. Although the deposit has a mining history of nearly 200 years, its origin has always been controversial. Previous researchers have proposed a variety of genetic models, including greenstone type, strata-bound type, ductile shear zone type, metamorphic hydrothermal type, magmatic hydrothermal type, etc., especially the ductile shear zone type genetic model.. is the main one.
In recent years, with the development of the resource prospecting project of the old mine, important breakthroughs have been made in the deep part of the Jiapigou deposit. According to drilling verification, a 10-meter-thick veinlet-disseminated gold ore body was found at 742-754.9 meters deep in the Jiapigou deposit, with an average gold grade of 2.2 grams per ton. The results of drilling logging show that the veinlet-disseminated gold ore body is mainly produced in the top contact zone of the concealed quartz diorite body. The ore minerals are mainly pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, etc., and the gangue minerals are mainly quartz, calcite, etc. In addition, in the Toudaoliuhe area southwest of Bajiazi, a blasting breccia-type gold deposit related to the diorite porphyry body was also discovered.
The new discovery of various types of gold mineralization not only deepens the understanding of the Jiapigou gold deposit system, but also provides new ideas and directions for regional deep prospecting.
2. Suggestions for the next step of deep prospecting
1. Continue to promote prospecting and prediction work in mining areas
Old mines are ideal places for deep mineral resource exploration, and mining areas are areas where large and medium-sized mines are densely distributed. The degree of mineral geological survey and prospecting prediction in mining areas are directly related to deep prospecting work in old mines and their periphery. However, due to various reasons, many mining areas still lack systematic mineral geological surveys and prospecting predictions, which directly hinders deep prospecting breakthroughs. Prospecting and prediction work in mining areas mainly includes the following two aspects:
First, on the basis of 1:50,000 mineral geological surveys, geophysical surveys, geochemical surveys, mineral and anomaly inspections, typical deposit research, and resource potential evaluation, determine key work areas for prospecting and prediction. Carry out large-scale special geological mapping (including revision and measurement), special geophysical exploration, special geochemical exploration, special sample collection and deep drilling exploration in key work areas, systematically study the ore-forming geological bodies, ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces, and characteristic signs of ore-forming processes of the main ore deposit types in the work area, build a comprehensive information model for prospecting and prediction, predict the location of ore bodies, evaluate resource potential, submit predicted resource quantities, and guide subsequent exploration.
Second, around the needs of deep prospecting and prediction, carry out the innovation and demonstration of the theory and method of prospecting and prediction of the "three-in-one" (ore-forming geological bodies, ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces, and characteristic signs of ore-forming processes) in ore clusters and old mines, mainly including: 1) Establishment of research methods and models for ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces; 2) Research on the theory and method of deep quantitative prediction of ore deposits; 3) Construct a prospecting and prediction model of "ore-forming geological bodies-ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces-characteristic signs of ore-forming processes" in ore clusters based on 2DGIS/3D modeling platform.
2. Strengthen the research on the theory and method of prospecting prediction
The creation of the theoretical method system of prospecting prediction in the exploration area, ..proposed the concepts of mineralization geological body, mineralization structural surface, and mineralization characteristic signs, which have achieved good results in actual use and effectively guided deep prospecting. However, the prospecting prediction theory in the exploration area is still not .., and needs to be revised in the actual application process.
First, it is necessary to combine the new discoveries of deep and peripheral prospecting in the mine to re-understand the mineralization laws of various types of deposits, the development depth of the mineralization system, and the zoning and superposition laws of different types of deposits. With deep prospecting as the goal, by establishing the upper and lower, left and right multi-dimensional spatial mineral deposit mineralization system structure model composed of vein, layer, block, and body mineralization styles in typical ore clusters, highlight the reflection of prospecting information, and then guide the deep and peripheral prospecting work of mines.
Second, the research on ore deposit patterns should move from the perspective of ore deposits to ore clusters, from the mineralization pattern of a single ore deposit to the combination pattern between typical ore deposit mineralization patterns, and from the stage of tectonic system ore control to the stage of tectonic ore series. This is of great significance for understanding the laws of ore control of ore series, deeply summarizing and understanding the laws of ore deposits and ore clusters, improving the understanding of deep ore deposit mineralization theory and guiding the exploration of mineral resources to achieve major breakthroughs.
3. Promote the research and development and application of new methods and new technologies
From the experience of deep ore prospecting in mines in recent years, the achievement of major achievements is the result of theoretical, methodological and technological innovation based on new phenomena, breaking old thinking and combining actual conditions. Scientific and technological innovation will undoubtedly play an important role in the future exploration of deep mineral resources. Therefore, while carrying out deep prospecting and exploration work, we should also focus on the research and development and promotion of technical methods such as geophysical exploration suitable for deep prospecting.
First, continue to implement the "three depths and one soil" land and resources science and technology innovation strategy, for the shallow 3,000 meters in the ore cluster area
In recent years, with the implementation of projects such as resource exploration for replacement of critical mines and replacement of old mines, deep prospecting and exploration has made a series of important progress. These new discoveries and new achievements have not only overturned the understanding of the mineralization laws and causes of existing ore deposits, promoted scientific research to "advance to the depths", but also provided an important basis for deep mineral resource exploration. This article introduces ten mines that have made important breakthroughs in deep prospecting in recent years, and puts forward suggestions for the next step of deep mineral exploration.
1. Ten mines that have made important breakthroughs in deep prospecting
1. Guangdong Dabaoshan Iron-Copper-Molybdenum Polymetallic Mine
The Dabaoshan Iron-Copper-Molybdenum Polymetallic Deposit is a large-scale ore deposit dominated by iron, copper, lead, zinc, sulfur and molybdenum. Unfortunately, after more than half a century of mining, the resources of the Dabaoshan deposit are almost exhausted, and it is a seriously crisis mine.
After two rounds of prospecting and exploration work, namely, prospecting for replacement resources in crisis mines (2006-2009) and prospecting for replacement resources in old mines (2014), a large-scale porphyry molybdenum ore body and a thick porphyry copper-sulfur ore body were discovered in the deep of Dabaoshan mining area, respectively, which made a major breakthrough in prospecting.
The discovery of porphyry molybdenum and copper-sulfur ore bodies in the deep of Dabaoshan further changed the previous understanding of the genesis of the deposit and provided important clues and basis for the next step of deep prospecting.
2. Luobusa Chromite Mine in Tibet
The Luobusa Chromite Deposit in Tibet is currently the largest chromite deposit in China with a relatively high degree of research and exploration, but after years of mining, the mine has a serious shortage of resource reserves.
Since 2006, through the study of the mineralized structural lithofacies belt and the spatial distribution of ore bodies in the mining area, combined with the comprehensive interpretation of gravity, magnetism and electricity, thick and large concealed ore bodies have been discovered in the deep part of the ore deposit, achieving a major breakthrough in the prospecting of chromite in my country. Drilling data show that in the borehole ZKWT02, a total of 46.28 meters of ore bodies were found at a depth of 286.3 to 341.1 meters, with a Cr2O3 content of more than 50%; in the borehole ZK West 2004, a total of 46.1 meters of ore layers were found at a depth of 334.5 to 426.9 meters, with a Cr2O3 content of about 50%. The Cr-80 single ore body resources found reached 1.15 million tons, becoming the largest chromite ore body discovered in China. In addition, through the implementation of the "kilometer drilling" deep hole ZK East 04, disseminated chromite in the altered and broken zone was found at a depth of 679.5 meters, verifying the existence of a large-scale ore-bearing structural lithofacies belt in the deep.
Through the implementation of deep prospecting and the discovery of deep thick chromite ore bodies, new ideas are provided for the next step of prospecting and exploration of the Luobusa chromite mine and similar chromite deposits in China.
3. Qixiashan Lead-Zinc Mine in Jiangsu
The Qixiashan lead-zinc polymetallic deposit in Jiangsu is located in Qixia Town in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing City, in the Ningzhen ore cluster area of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
From 2012 to 2014, the geological and mineral survey and evaluation project implemented the "Qixiashan Lead-Zinc Mine Successor Resource Exploration in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province" project, and carried out deep prospecting work on the deposit. Based on the study of the silicon/calcium surface-controlled ore and vein-like ore body side-lying rules of the Carboniferous Gaolishan Formation and Huanglong Formation, the project used in-pit drilling to trace and control the extension of the No. 1 main ore body in terms of strike and dip, and discovered new multi-layer thick lead-zinc ore bodies. It is estimated that this work has added 333+334 resources: 581,300 tons of lead and zinc, 7.64 tons of co-existing (associated) gold, 1,113 tons of silver, and 15,300 tons of copper.
The Qixiashan deposit is the largest lead-zinc polymetallic deposit discovered in East China. The new results of deep exploration have not only promoted the research work on the genesis of the deposit and gained new understanding, but also pointed out the direction for the next step of prospecting.
4. Yunnan Lancang Lead Mine
The Lancang Laochang lead-zinc-silver polymetallic deposit in Yunnan Province has always been considered to be a massive sulfide deposit (VMS) built with volcanic rocks as the host or related to volcanic rocks.
Since the implementation of deep prospecting work in the mine in 2006, after the ZK153101 borehole revealed the molybdenum mineralization zone, the ZK14824 and ZK14827 boreholes have revealed deep molybdenum mineralization bodies. Among them, the ZK14827 borehole is 1417.05 meters deep, and the total length of the industrial ore body delineated is 696.25 meters, with an average grade of 0.068%. The ore body is mainly produced in deep hidden porphyry bodies (Himalayan period) and contact zones.
The discovery of deep hidden porphyry bodies and magmatic molybdenum deposits has triggered controversy among scholars on the genetic model of the deposit. The existence of porphyry or magmatic mineralization systems is a fact. If the massive sulfide mineralization system of the Carboniferous period is considered, it should be the superposition of two mineralization systems.
5. Bilihe Gold Mine in Inner Mongolia
Early exploration and research believe that the Bilihe gold deposit is located in the volcanoes, subvolcanoes, pyroclastic rock system and cryptoexplosive breccia of the Late Jurassic Manitu Formation, from basic basalt to intermediate-acidic rhyolite, forming a set of gold-bearing volcanic structures. Among them, altered volcanic rocks, subvolcanic rocks and breccias are the main gold-bearing geological bodies and the direct surrounding rocks of the ore. The main lithologies include andesitic breccia lava, andesitic porphyry breccia lava, diorite porphyry, hydrothermal breccia, altered basaltic breccia, etc. The morphological characteristics of the ore body also show that it is closely related to the volcanic structure.
After deep and peripheral exploration and typical ore deposit dissection research in the mining area, Qing Min et al. believed that the mineralization of the Bilihe gold mine was related to the Hercynian magmatic activity, and the nature of the ore-forming fluid and the spatial output of the ore body were closely related to the shallow granodiorite porphyry. On this basis, they established the "porphyry-tectonic altered rock-shallow quartz vein-type mineralization type integration" mineralization model of the mining field.
6. Weilastuo Tin Polymetallic Mine in Inner Mongolia
The Weilastuo Tin Polymetallic Deposit is located in the southern section of the Greater Khingan Range and was once developed and prospected as a large copper-zinc-silver polymetallic deposit.
In 2013, geologists discovered tin-bearing quartz veins in the biotite plagioclase gneiss in the mining area and its periphery during the exploration process, and then speculated that there may be hidden ore bodies in the deep. The old mine prospecting project implemented in the 2014 geological survey project has initially identified more than 30 ore bodies, among which the No. 1 ore body is the main ore body, which is longer than 700 meters and wider than 300 meters, and generally presents a gentle wave shape; the average thickness of the ore body (apparent thickness) is 5.15 meters, and the average Sn grade is 0.89%; a total of 81,000 tons of tin metal (333 and above) were submitted, achieving a major breakthrough in tin prospecting in the southern section of the Greater Khingan Range.
The southern section of the Greater Khingan Range is an important lead-zinc, silver, copper, and tin polymetallic mineralization belt in my country. The discovery of deep tin polymetallic deposits in the Verasto deposit has not only changed people's previous understanding of the mineralization laws of tin, silver, lead and zinc in the southern section of the Greater Khingan Range, but also will affect the future tin prospecting and exploration ideas in this area, which is of great significance.
7. Sichuan Lala Copper Mine
The Sichuan Lala Copper Mine is located in the middle section of the Yangtze Platform Kangdian axis, which is the intersection of the east-west Jinshajiang fault fold belt and the north-south structural belt of the Sichuan-Yunnan Panxi Great Rift Valley. Lala Copper Mine is an important large copper mine in southwest my country and also the largest copper mine production base in Sichuan Province. The metal minerals in the mine are mainly copper, followed by iron and nickel, and the associated metals are silver, gold, cobalt, molybdenum, platinum, palladium, etc.
Before 2012, 42 major mineral deposits (points) were explored, including 1 large mineral deposit, 4 medium-sized mineral deposits, and the rest were small mineral deposits and mineral points. The cumulative proven copper resources are 1.3 million tons, iron resources are 26 million tons, and nickel resources are 50,000 tons. From 2012 to 2014, the exploration project of the replacement resources of the old mines made a major breakthrough in the exploration of the Hongnipo mining area in the south of the Lala Luotang copper mine, adding 632,200 tons of 333+334 copper resources, achieving a major breakthrough in prospecting.
The major prospecting breakthrough of the Hongnipo copper mine has opened up a vast prospecting space in the Lala area. The discovery of the new mineralized strata has clarified the next prospecting direction of the region and enhanced the prospecting confidence of mining enterprises in "looking for Lala outside Lala", providing a successful experience for reference for the "Lala-style" copper prospecting in the Sichuan-Yunnan nonferrous metal mineralization belt.
8. Jiangxi Xiangshan Uranium Mine
The Jiangxi Xiangshan uranium ore field is located in the northeast section of the Qinhang mineralization belt, the southwest end of the Ganhang terrestrial volcanic uranium mineralization belt, and the southeast side of the Dexing-Suichuan fault. It is an important hydrothermal uranium ore field in my country. Previous research on the Xiangshan uranium ore field focused on the mineralization mechanism of uranium and prospecting prediction, and was mainly concentrated in the shallow part of the ore field. With the implementation of deep prospecting in the mine, multiple deep holes have seen good polymetallic mineralization such as lead, zinc, and copper, and the grade is high, which has reached the value of comprehensive utilization.
For example, the borehole CUSD3 saw lead-zinc-copper mineralization veins and copper polymetallic mineralization veins at a depth of 1095.4~1549.2 meters and 1574.2~1577.5 meters respectively. For another example, the borehole ZK26-101 saw polymetallic mineralization such as lead, zinc, and silver at a depth of about 330 meters. The preliminary estimate of the lead-zinc-silver ore resources is 17,000 tons of Pb, 8,800 tons of Zn, and 76.2 tons of Ag, respectively.
The discovery of deep lead-zinc-copper polymetallic mineralization constitutes the mineralization space model of upper uranium-middle lead-zinc-gold-lower copper in the Xiangshan ore field, which not only deepens the understanding of the mineralization law of the ore field, expands the deep prospecting space, but also opens up regional prospecting ideas.
9. Meishan Iron Mine in Nanjing
According to the mineralization model of porphyry iron ore in the Ningwu area, Meishan-type iron ore is a high-temperature gas-liquid replacement filling deposit and slurry filling deposit above and below the contact zone between the subvolcanic rock body and the volcanic rock, with a combination of diopside-garnet-apatite-magnetite.
In the Meishan Iron Mine successor resource prospecting project implemented in recent years, gold ore bodies were found in the silicified, pyritized, carbonated tuff, sedimentary tuff, and tuff breccia at the top of the Meishan iron ore layer. At the same time, this layer is also a "near-ore indicator alteration zone" commonly found at the top of the Meishan iron ore layer. According to the project results of the Geological Brigade of the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the ZK4101 borehole saw gold mineralization of 15.6 meters at 392.2-407.8 meters, with an average grade of 0.97 g/ton; the ZK4121 borehole saw a gold layer of 8.49 meters at 406.28-414.77 meters, with an average grade of 1.88 g/ton. The preliminary estimate is that the additional 333 gold resources (metal content) are 2.85 tons.
Although the current understanding of the relationship between iron mineralization and gold mineralization needs to be further deepened, this discovery has guiding significance for the prospecting of porphyry iron ore in the Ningwu area.
10. Jilin Jiapigou Gold Mine
The Jiapigou Gold Mine is located on the northern edge of the North China Craton and is a crisis mine with almost exhausted resources. Although the deposit has a mining history of nearly 200 years, its origin has always been controversial. Previous researchers have proposed a variety of genetic models, including greenstone type, strata-bound type, ductile shear zone type, metamorphic hydrothermal type, magmatic hydrothermal type, etc., especially the ductile shear zone type genetic model.. is the main one.
In recent years, with the development of the resource prospecting project of the old mine, important breakthroughs have been made in the deep part of the Jiapigou deposit. According to drilling verification, a 10-meter-thick veinlet-disseminated gold ore body was found at 742-754.9 meters deep in the Jiapigou deposit, with an average gold grade of 2.2 grams per ton. The results of drilling logging show that the veinlet-disseminated gold ore body is mainly produced in the top contact zone of the concealed quartz diorite body. The ore minerals are mainly pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, etc., and the gangue minerals are mainly quartz, calcite, etc. In addition, in the Toudaoliuhe area southwest of Bajiazi, a blasting breccia-type gold deposit related to the diorite porphyry body was also discovered.
The new discovery of various types of gold mineralization not only deepens the understanding of the Jiapigou gold deposit system, but also provides new ideas and directions for regional deep prospecting.
2. Suggestions for the next step of deep prospecting
1. Continue to promote prospecting and prediction work in mining areas
Old mines are ideal places for deep mineral resource exploration, and mining areas are areas where large and medium-sized mines are densely distributed. The degree of mineral geological survey and prospecting prediction in mining areas are directly related to deep prospecting work in old mines and their periphery. However, due to various reasons, many mining areas still lack systematic mineral geological surveys and prospecting predictions, which directly hinders deep prospecting breakthroughs. Prospecting and prediction work in mining areas mainly includes the following two aspects:
First, on the basis of 1:50,000 mineral geological surveys, geophysical surveys, geochemical surveys, mineral and anomaly inspections, typical deposit research, and resource potential evaluation, determine key work areas for prospecting and prediction. Carry out large-scale special geological mapping (including revision and measurement), special geophysical exploration, special geochemical exploration, special sample collection and deep drilling exploration in key work areas, systematically study the ore-forming geological bodies, ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces, and characteristic signs of ore-forming processes of the main ore deposit types in the work area, build a comprehensive information model for prospecting and prediction, predict the location of ore bodies, evaluate resource potential, submit predicted resource quantities, and guide subsequent exploration.
Second, around the needs of deep prospecting and prediction, carry out the innovation and demonstration of the theory and method of prospecting and prediction of the "three-in-one" (ore-forming geological bodies, ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces, and characteristic signs of ore-forming processes) in ore clusters and old mines, mainly including: 1) Establishment of research methods and models for ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces; 2) Research on the theory and method of deep quantitative prediction of ore deposits; 3) Construct a prospecting and prediction model of "ore-forming geological bodies-ore-forming structures and ore-forming structural surfaces-characteristic signs of ore-forming processes" in ore clusters based on 2DGIS/3D modeling platform.
2. Strengthen the research on the theory and method of prospecting prediction
The creation of the theoretical method system of prospecting prediction in the exploration area, ..proposed the concepts of mineralization geological body, mineralization structural surface, and mineralization characteristic signs, which have achieved good results in actual use and effectively guided deep prospecting. However, the prospecting prediction theory in the exploration area is still not .., and needs to be revised in the actual application process.
First, it is necessary to combine the new discoveries of deep and peripheral prospecting in the mine to re-understand the mineralization laws of various types of deposits, the development depth of the mineralization system, and the zoning and superposition laws of different types of deposits. With deep prospecting as the goal, by establishing the upper and lower, left and right multi-dimensional spatial mineral deposit mineralization system structure model composed of vein, layer, block, and body mineralization styles in typical ore clusters, highlight the reflection of prospecting information, and then guide the deep and peripheral prospecting work of mines.
Second, the research on ore deposit patterns should move from the perspective of ore deposits to ore clusters, from the mineralization pattern of a single ore deposit to the combination pattern between typical ore deposit mineralization patterns, and from the stage of tectonic system ore control to the stage of tectonic ore series. This is of great significance for understanding the laws of ore control of ore series, deeply summarizing and understanding the laws of ore deposits and ore clusters, improving the understanding of deep ore deposit mineralization theory and guiding the exploration of mineral resources to achieve major breakthroughs.
3. Promote the research and development and application of new methods and new technologies
From the experience of deep ore prospecting in mines in recent years, the achievement of major achievements is the result of theoretical, methodological and technological innovation based on new phenomena, breaking old thinking and combining actual conditions. Scientific and technological innovation will undoubtedly play an important role in the future exploration of deep mineral resources. Therefore, while carrying out deep prospecting and exploration work, we should also focus on the research and development and promotion of technical methods such as geophysical exploration suitable for deep prospecting.
First, continue to implement the "three depths and one soil" land and resources science and technology innovation strategy, for the shallow 3,000 meters in the ore cluster area