Mineral resource base and potential

1. Basic geological survey

The Altay region has superior mineralization geological conditions and is located in the middle of the world-famous mineralization belt, with huge mineral resource potential. The basic geological survey work in the Altay region is at the leading level in Xinjiang, and the level of geological work is relatively high. Basic and public welfare geological work has laid the foundation for commercial mineral resource exploration in the Altay region. By the end of 2008, the Altay region had completed a 1:200,000 regional geological and mineral survey of the bedrock outcrops in the region, covering an area of ??approximately 92,000 km2, and a 1:50,000 regional geological and mineral survey covering an area of ??approximately 12,000 km2. , The 1:200,000 river sediment measurement has been covered except for the high mountainous area in the northwest (south of Friendship Peak, covering an area of ??about 4,200km2), and the rest of the bedrock outcrop areas have been covered, and 1:50,000 geochemical exploration work has been completed in some areas. In addition, 1:100,000 to 1:200,000 aeromagnetic and aeronautical weight and 1:50,000 comprehensive aeronautical stations and geoelectric and geomagnetic measurements have been carried out (Table 3-1). However, compared with the whole country, there are many outstanding debts for basic geological work, and the level of geological work is relatively low. For example, the 1:50,000 regional geological survey has only completed 10.19% of the entire region, and the 1:5 geological survey has only completed 0. 93% completed.

Table 3-1 Completion status of basic geological work in the Altay region

Data source: Fourth Geological Brigade of Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Geological Project Survey Suggestions Report and Geological Exploration Results Report , 2008; Altay Regional Land and Resources Bureau, Altay Mineral Resources Master Planning Research, 2003.

With the development of basic geological work, geological research has also achieved good results. Prospecting units and scientific research institutes in various regions have carried out a large number of special studies in the region. The foundation of geological research work is solid, especially The implementation of the national “305” project has achieved fruitful results. In recent years, a series of works have been published publicly, accelerating the transformation of results and focusing on social benefits. The above basic geological survey and scientific research work provide the basis for the analysis and evaluation of the resource potential of the mining zone.

II. Mineral Resource Exploration

The Altay region is located in the middle of the Kazakhstan-China-Mongolia world-class black and non-ferrous metal mineralization belt. It is one of the important mineral resource concentration areas in my country. It is an important mineral resource base in Xinjiang and even the whole country. The regional energy, metal, and non-metal minerals are elaborated below respectively.

(1) Energy and minerals

1. Oil and gas

Historically, the Altay region is a region with little oil and gas. In recent years, regional exploration of oil and gas resources has shown that oil and gas resources are relatively abundant and have good prospects. The Ulungu River area has the geological conditions for the formation of medium-sized oil and gas fields. The Ulungu Depression, Burqin Basin, and Fuhai Basin in this area all have good geological conditions. oil and gas resource exploration potential. In 2006, PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Branch invested 900 million yuan to obtain natural gas flow in Fuhai County. In 2008, it had a daily natural gas output of 300,000 m3, with more than 20 oil wells officially producing oil. In 2008, the regional crude oil production was approximately 22,000 t/a. In the area west of Dishuiquan on the southern edge of the region, 119 oil, gas and water wells have been constructed, including 87 oil and gas wells. The prospects for oil and gas resources are relatively promising.

2. Coal

The Altay region has historically been a coal-deficient area. The characteristics of its coal resources are: first, small scale, and second, uneven distribution. As of the end of 2008, no large or medium-sized coal mines had been discovered in the area. The area along the Irtysh River from Tost in Jimunai to Fuhaijilagou to Kamst in Fuyun to Qinghe Karatashi is a key exploration area for regional coal resources. The above are generally distributed in a semi-circular shape along the eastern, northern and northwest edges of the Junggar Basin, and the burial depth of the coal-bearing strata changes from shallower to deeper as it extends toward the center of the Junggar Basin. Among them, the Kamster area is the main coalfield area, with a total area of ??about 7 400 km2. From the perspective of administrative divisions, coal-bearing strata are mainly distributed in Fuyun, Qinghe, Fuhai, Jimunai counties and other counties.

According to the geological background of the Altai region, the large Tertiary coverage area in the Altay region from Beitun, Burqin County to Jimunai County, and west of Zhaheba in the Ulungu River section has the above-mentioned Carboniferous and It is possible that coal-bearing fault basins existed in the Permian and Jurassic, but the overlying layer is generally tens to hundreds of meters thick, indicating great potential for coal resources.

The 10th Agricultural Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has proven coal reserves of 60 million tons in the area from Kamster to Sanbastao in Fuyun County. In 2007, coal exploration in Fuyun County achieved good results. The recoverable thickness of multiple exploration blocks can reach 7 to 10 m, showing good prospects for coal resource exploration and development. By the end of 2008, the proven reserves were 10.26 billion tons, with prospective reserves of 50 billion tons. There is huge potential for coal resources in the Nuohai-Harjiao area in Jimunai County and the area from Bastau to Delun Mountain in Shanbastau. In the future, coal resource exploration should be increased to improve the reserve level to provide coal power and coal chemical infrastructure in the mining zone. Solid coal resource guarantee.

There are currently 142 coal exploration rights in the Altay region, mainly distributed in the Fuyun Kamster area, and also in Fuhai, Jimuna and other counties and cities. To sum up, the degree of coal exploration in the region is low, most of which are preliminary surveys, and the resource potential is large. Exploration and development efforts should be further increased.

(2) Metal mineral exploration

The metal mineral exploration work in the Altay region can be roughly divided into three stages. Each stage presents different characteristics and has remarkable ore prospecting results.

1. Geological exploration situation

The first stage (from the founding of New China to the early 1960s). Mainly engaged in mineral exploration such as iron, rare and alluvial gold. Before the founding of New China, almost no geological work was done on iron ore in Xinjiang. Only a few geologists did siderite geological exploration in the 1930s and 1940s. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xinjiang carried out large-scale regional geological surveys, aerial magnetic surveys and other basic geological work. In 1958, the "National Steelmaking Campaign" greatly promoted the prospecting and exploration of iron ore. From the mid-1950s to the 1960s, At the beginning, a large number of magnetic anomalies and iron ore origins were discovered and evaluated, such as the Altay Mengku Iron Mine. Xinjiang is the earliest region in my country to carry out rare metal mineral exploration work, especially the Altay region. As early as 1935 to 1950, geologists from the former Soviet Union and my country conducted granitic pegmatite type rare metal prospecting in the Altai Mountains. and gold mining and other survey work. The former Soviet Union explored and exploited rare minerals such as the Cocotohai No. 3 vein. From 1950 to 1954, China and the Soviet Union cooperated to unify the management of the exploration and development of rare mines in the Altay region. Experts from the former Soviet Union prepared many important research reports. In 1955, China Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Company conducted exploration and development management of rare metal minerals in the Altay region, and the exploration and development of rare metal minerals in the Altay region entered a new stage of development.

The second stage (from the early 1960s to the late 1970s). It mainly focuses on the exploration of granitic pegmatite type rare metal minerals. At this stage, Chinese geologists mainly conducted systematic research on Altai pegmatites and achieved fruitful results. The research on pegmatites in the Altay region began in 1964. By the end of the 1970s, the former Institute of Geology of the Ministry of Metallurgy, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Xinjiang Geological Exploration Bureau, and the Xinjiang Institute of Technology and other scientific research institutes and universities conducted research on Kolumu in the Altay region. The mineralogy, mineralization characteristics, structural geology and ore-controlling structures of pegmatites in Tehe Keketuohai and other places were studied, further deepening the understanding of the geological conditions and characteristics of pegmatite mineralization. These studies provide a theoretical basis for rare metal mineral exploration work.

The third stage (from the late 1970s to the present). Mainly focusing on non-ferrous metal and precious metal mineral exploration. Driven by new mineral prospecting ideas such as volcanic mineralization, stratiform-controlled mineralization, multi-source, multi-stage and multi-genesis, and the fact that the southern edge of the Altai Mountains is the eastern extension of Altai, Kazakhstan’s mineralization area, the “305” project was implemented from 1997 to In the early stage, Xinjiang geological exploration units carried out large-scale medium- and large-scale geophysical and geochemical prospecting and general surveys for iron, gold, copper-nickel, lead-zinc ores on the southern edge of the Altai Mountains. In 1978, the Fourth Brigade of Xinjiang Geology and Mineral Resources discovered the Kalatongke copper-nickel deposit and began nonferrous metal exploration. In 1984, the Fourth Brigade of Xinjiang Geology and Mineral Resources discovered the Ashele copper-zinc deposit in Habahe County. With the Murte copper-polygold deposit, non-ferrous metal mineral exploration in the Altay region has entered a new era.

Due to the new understanding of lead and zinc prospecting ideas, the Keinbulak copper-zinc mine, Hongdun lead-zinc mine (1985), Kekotal lead-zinc mine, and Abagong lead-zinc mine (1985) were successively discovered. A number of deposits such as the Akharen Lead Mine (1986) and Akharen Lead Mine (1987). During the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" and "Eighth Five-Year Plan" periods, thanks to the joint research between the geological exploration unit and the "305" project scientific research unit on the integration of exploration and scientific research, fruitful results have been achieved in the geological work of the non-ferrous metal mineralization belt on the southern edge of the Altai Mountains. A major breakthrough was made in prospecting. As far as gold from precious metal mines is concerned, the geological work of gold mines in the Altay region did not attract due attention in the 1950s and 1960s and was basically at a state of stagnation; after the 1970s, especially during the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" period, the gold prospecting work Breakthrough progress has been made, with newly discovered and explored Dolanasayi gold deposits in Habahe County and Shaerbulake gold deposits in Fuyun County. From 1981 to present, it is the stage of large-scale gold exploration. In 1981, the Armed Police Gold Troops carried out a large-scale placer gold survey and exploration and evaluation of key placer gold deposits in the Altai Mountains. Before 1985, three small and medium-sized placer gold mines, namely Xichahe, Hongdun and Kalamaili, were basically identified in the Altay region using the “mine-based prospecting” method. Through the work of the Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the Armed Police Gold Force, the National “305” Project Scientific Research Unit, and the Xinjiang Nonferrous Geological Exploration Bureau, we have conducted research on the geochemistry of gold deposits, and prospecting theories and methods, and achieved certain results in prospecting.

In recent years, exploration work of placer iron ore in Qinghe County has also been carried out, and the predicted resource amount is about 40 million tons (metal amount).

2. Analysis of the degree of identification of major metal minerals

Compared with the entire region of Xinjiang, the Altay region has a higher overall level of geological work. Especially rare metals, precious metals, non-ferrous metal minerals, etc.

Using the degree of identification of mineral resources to analyze the degree of exploration of major metal minerals in the Altay region, the exploration degree of major metal minerals in the Altay region is as follows. According to data from the Ministry of Land and Resources in 2006: my country's mineralization geological conditions are favorable, and the overall degree of identification of major mineral resources is about 1/ 3. Most important mineral resources have great potential for exploration and development. The average identification rate of important metal mineral resources is 35%, and the identification rate of bulk minerals such as iron and aluminum is about 40%. Compared with the whole country, the degree of identification of major metal minerals in the Altay region is low. For example, the identification level of iron ore is 17.84%, which is 22 percentage points lower than the national average. The identification level of other minerals such as copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, etc. is only 10% to 18% nationwide. The prospecting potential is huge (Table 3-2).

Table 3-2 Comparison of the degree of identification of major metal minerals in the Altay region

Note: ①Identification degree of mineral resources = identified reserves/predicted resources and reserves×100; ②Gold Mines include rock gold, placer gold and associated gold.

Data source: The main metal mineral resource reserves in the Altay region are based on the data of the Altay Regional Land and Resources Bureau, 2004; the national resources are from the "National Mineral Resources Planning (2008-2015)", 2008, Ministry of Land and Resources.

Comprehensive scientific research forecasts of various minerals show that the Altai metallogenic belt is one of the 16 key metallogenic belts in the country. It has great potential for ferrous, non-ferrous metals, rare and precious metals, especially copper and nickel. , lead, zinc, gold, iron and other key minerals. However, the degree of identification of major metal minerals in the region is relatively low, which is basically consistent with the conclusion drawn from the above-mentioned degree of identification of mineral resources.

In summary, the degree of metal mineral exploration in the Altay region is relatively low and the depth is not enough. Therefore, there is huge prospecting potential. Deep prospecting is an important means to increase the reserves of important mineral resources. Strengthening deep ore prospecting and expanding the deep and peripheral second prospecting space are important measures for the Altay region to increase metal mineral resource reserves, extend the service life of mines, and improve the ability to sustainably guarantee mineral resources. For example, in October 2009, in order to further accelerate the pace of geological exploration and better meet the demand for mineral resources for socio-economic development, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region put forward deep mineral prospecting opinions: In the mining special zone, deepen the geological exploration layout of Altai, and " The 358" project is closely integrated, focusing on advantageous minerals such as iron and copper, to carry out deep prospecting work in two mining areas, Manganku Iron Mine in Fuyun County and Halasu Copper Mine in Qinghe County.

(3) Non-metallic mineral exploration

Mainly include muscovite, potassium feldspar, gemstones and other regional advantageous and characteristic mineral resources. As early as the 1930s and 1940s, a group of geologists from the former Soviet Union discovered muscovite and gemstone deposits in the Altai Mountains during route surveys in Xinjiang. After the founding of New China, non-metallic mineral exploration in the Altay region has developed comprehensively. In the 1960s, exploration focused on cutting-edge national defense industrial raw materials such as muscovite and crystal, providing my country with a large muscovite mine base. From the late 1970s to the 1980s, with the needs of my country's reform, opening up and economic construction, non-metallic prospecting work was comprehensively strengthened. In the 1990s, under the guidance of the Western Development Strategy, the focus of my country's geological work shifted westward, and the application fields of non-metallic minerals continued to expand, resulting in increasing efforts in non-metallic mineral exploration. Mainly led by the Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and the Xinjiang Building Materials Geology Team, with the participation of many other departments, a large number of explorations were conducted on non-metallic minerals in the Altay region, and 54 non-metallic mineral origins were discovered. A large amount of reserves have been discovered, providing a raw material base for the economic construction of Xinjiang and the whole country. The muscovite mine exploration in the Altai Mountains conducted in the 1960s and 1970s discovered three super-large muscovite deposits in the middle and lower reaches of Nasenqia, Ayubrak, and Kuwei, making Xinjiang’s muscovite reserves rank first in the country. The level of exploration work for non-metallic minerals such as muscovite in the Altai Mountains is relatively high.

(4) Groundwater resource exploration

The degree of research on groundwater resources in the Altay region is extremely low. By the end of 2003, only a 1:500,000 regional hydrogeological survey had been completed. In some areas, large-scale groundwater resource evaluation work has been carried out in conjunction with the development needs of industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, and mining, but the proportion is very small.

3. Geological research

With heavy investment in basic geology and mineral geological exploration, geological research has made new progress in the Altay region since the 1960s. In the mid-1960s, the preparation of 1:500,000 geological and mineral maps and descriptions of the Altay region was completed. In the late 1980s, a 1:500,000 geological and mineral map and a non-ferrous and precious metal mineralization pattern map of the Altay region were compiled, and the "Gold, Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mineralization Prediction and Zoning Report of the Xinjiang Altay Region" was published. From the mid-1980s to the present, the national “305” project has set up a large number of special research projects in the region. Since the “Seventh Five-Year Plan”, 120 research topics have been implemented in the Altay region, and 1 technical assistance project has been introduced. There are 2,100 experts from domestic and foreign research institutes and teaching units, and a total of 91.29 million yuan of research funding has been invested, making the geoscience research work in this region reach a considerable depth and breadth.

In terms of geological research on rare metal mineral resources, the research on rare metal minerals and their mineralization laws has been carried out for a long time, with large investment and strong technical strength in research units. Geologists from the former Soviet Union and our country have studied the greatness of the Xinjiang Altai Mountains. The research on crystal rocks is very in-depth, and theories on the mineralization rules and evolution of granite in the Altai Mountains have been proposed, laying a solid foundation for the exploration of rare metal mineral resources. From 1978 to 1987, the Institute of Mineral Deposit Geology of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the Institute of Geology of Xinjiang Nonferrous Geological Exploration Bureau, China University of Geosciences and other scientific research institutes and universities conducted research on the mineral composition, rare metal mineralization rules and mineralization of the Altay granite pegmatite. Conducted research on forecasting, published relevant monographs, and submitted research reports. Since the implementation of the “305” project, a national key research project in 1986, the exploration of rare metal minerals in the Altay region of Xinjiang has entered a new stage. Research institutes such as the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Mineral Deposit Geology of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and the Institute of Geology of the Xinjiang Geological Exploration Bureau have completed research on the Altai Mountain granitoids and their relationship with mineralization. In terms of non-metallic mineral scientific research, various aspects of work have been carried out, especially since the launch of the “305” project, many important results have been achieved, such as the study of typical mineral deposits of muscovite.

In July 2008, the Xinjiang public welfare geological survey and important mineral exploration project (“358” project) jointly carried out by the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government initially determined the As for the overall deployment plan, the Ministry of Land and Resources and the People's Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Accelerating the Development of Public Welfare Geological Surveys and Important Mineral Exploration in Xinjiang." The two-year work goals for 2009 and 2010 have now been clarified, pushing the mineral resource exploration in the Altay region to a higher level.

IV. Forecast of prospecting prospects in the Altay region

According to the regional geological background and metal mineralization geological conditions, the Altay mineralization belt in the Altay region is divided into national-level and autonomous region-level black , non-ferrous metal mineral resource replacement area. The resource potential of the replacement area was analyzed and the predicted resource amount was initially calculated.

(1) National-level replacement districts

In order to scientifically and quantitatively evaluate the economic and social benefits of the western resource replacement areas, and to promote the scientific planning and rational development layout of mineral resources in the western region, we provide Support, the China Geological Survey issued a geological survey implementation project--Evaluation of resource replacement areas in the western region. The non-ferrous metal resource replacement area in the Altay region is one of the 12 resource replacement areas in the west, starting from Habahe County in the west to Qinghe County in the east, north and south It is 50 to 80 km wide, about 200 km long from east to west, and covers an area of ??about 1,300 km2. The area has great potential for iron ore, copper ore and lead and zinc resources. Since the implementation of the land and resources survey project, 175 million tons of iron ore resources (333+334) have been obtained in Fuyun County, 35 million tons in the Abagong survey area, 35 million tons in Baliles, and 35 million tons in Garbas. 5 million tons on the island, 100 million tons on the east side of Mongcu, and the Baliles, Garbas Island, Koylepu iron ore, and Ashele iron ore are available for census. In addition, the Kalasu and Karasengel copper deposits were discovered in Qinghe County, which have great prospecting prospects for porphyry copper deposits.

According to a report from China Copper Network on November 19, 2009, an important breakthrough was made in the deep geological exploration of the Ashele Copper Mine. One layer of copper-sulfur ore body is found at a depth of 516. 20 ~ 587. 00 m. The true thickness of the ore body is about 61. 31 m. The average Cu grade is 3. 00%, the Zn grade is 0. 71%, and the S grade is 48. 88%. The Ag grade is 23. 93g/t, including 516. 20 ~ 530. 00 m (apparent thickness 13. 8 m), and the average copper grade is 5. 27%. The ore body is located on the north side of the No. 1 ore belt of the Ashele Copper Mine. Copper ore bodies with large thickness and high grade are found in the deep parts, indicating that the I ore body is not closed in the deep parts, indicating that the Ashele Copper Mine has large ore prospecting in the deep parts. Prospects and potential.

(2) Resource prediction

The Altay region has iron, lead, zinc, copper and gold exploration and development zones, which are bounded by the Irtysh tectonic compression zone. It is divided into the northern Altai metallogenic area and the southern Junggar metallogenic area. The whole area is divided into 2 level II metallogenic areas, namely the Altay metallogenic area and the Junggar metallogenic area. It is divided into 6 A-level mineralization prediction areas and 12 B-level mineralization prediction areas. area (Figure 3-2), and predict the future mineral resources in this area (Table 3-3).

Figure 3-2 Map of the metallogenic belts and mineralization prediction areas in the Altay region

Table 3-3 Resource statistics of each mineralization prediction area in the Altay region

Continued table

Data source: Altay region mineral resources overall planning study, A-level mineralization prediction area statistics, Altay Region Land and Resources Bureau, 2003.

According to relevant information, the predicted resources of the main minerals in the Altay Mining Zone are: more than 51.1 billion tons of coal, 800 million tons of iron ore, 15 million tons of copper, 20 million tons of zinc, and 10 million tons of lead. t, 1.6 million t of nickel, 2,000 t of gold, 23,700 t of muscovite, etc. Therefore, increasing the intensity of geological exploration and converting predicted resources into proven reserves as soon as possible is the primary task facing the construction of mining special zones.