CHINA MINING News

2013 ten progress announced by China geological survey

2013 ten progress announced by China geological survey

2013 ten progress of China geological survey implemented by Chinese Geological Survey Bureau were announced recently.

The progress included: successful ending of potential evaluation of national mineral resources; drilling new type of natural gas hydrate of high purity in the South China Sea ; opening up unconventional oil and gas new fields made by investigation and evaluation of shale gas; full completion of survey and evaluation of shallow geothermal energy resources in provincial capital city; major breakthroughs achieved in copper mine in Tibet area; important achievements in the geological environment survey in important economic region and city group; significant progress made by study of stratigraphy paleontology; providing public services by medium scale digital geologic map; China`s first discovery of rare earth resources in the Pacific Ocean; the UAV aerial geophysical integrated station survey filling the domestic blank. (Gao Huili) （translated by TLRHVC）

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13th Li Siguang Geological Science Award Ceremony held in Beijing

13th Li Siguang Geological Science Award Ceremony held in Beijing

(Photo：Li Zhentao)

On the afternoon of Jan. 13, Jiang Daming and other leaders awarded for the 13th Li Siguang Geological Science Award Ceremony.

13th Li Siguang Geological Science Award Ceremony Held in Beijing on the afternoon of Jan. 13. Jiang Daming, Minister of Land and Resources, China, National land chief inspector, Committee Director of LiSiguang Geological Science Award, attended the meeting to award for the winners and delivered a speech. He emphasized that we should vigorously carry forward the spirit of Li Siguang, to accelerate the progress of geological technology, make new larger contribution for the economic and social development of the new period and the construction of ecological civilization.

Ms. Shou Jiahua, vice director of LiSiguang Geological Science Award, former vice minister of Land and Resources, Cai Xiyuan, vice director of LiSiguang Geological Science Award, chief geologist of China Petroleum Chemical Co., Ltd., Fang Xin, deputy secretary of Chinese Academy of Science, Zhang Shaonong, vice minister of Land and Resources, Zhang Hongtao, foundation chairman of Li Siguang Geological Science Award, vice director of LiSiguang Geological Science Award, counselor of the State Council attended the meeting and awarded for the winners. Zhong Ziran, chief engineer，Ministry of Land and Resources, China presided over the meeting. 　　

Jiang Daming said Li Siguang spirit is the precious spiritual wealth for the majority of geological science and technology workers. Under the guidance of the spirit, the progress of science and technology has provided strong support for the development of China`s geology. In recent years, the geological work of science and technology in China has made great achievements and made a number of influential research results in the domestic and foreign countries which provided strong support for a series of major issues such as solving resource security, environmental protection, disaster prevention and the geochemical evolution. It not only improved the scientific development of mineral resources, promoted the protection of geological environment and geological disaster prevention, but also enhanced the cognitive ability and the earth scientific theory and technique.

Jiang Daming emphasized geological science and technology work shouldered the important historical mission in ensuring the economic and social development, the promotion of ecological civilization construction in the new period. We should serve for the protection of national energy security, promoting the construction of ecological civilization, disaster prevention and mitigation, promoting the new urbanization and agricultural modernization and the construction of major projects as well as the construction of maritime power. In order to meet the new requirements to implement the Party Central Committee, the State Council on the geological work of science and technology and fulfill the new task to safeguard and promote the modernization construction, we must deepen the reform of geological science and technology system, carefully implement major science and technology projects, accelerate the pace of growth of scientific and technological personnel which played an important role in leading and supporting the geological science and technology.

On the meeting, Ms. Shou Jiahua read out in public "The Decision on the Award of the 13th Li Siguang Prize in Geological Science", awarded “Li Siguang Prize in Geological Science” to Xia Qinglong, professor of the CNOOC Tianjin Branch. Xia Qinglong, from CNOOC, Yin Yueping, professor of Chinese Institute of Geo Environment Monitoring, Yan Danping, professor of China University of Geosciences (Beijing) delivered the speech. (Li Xiang) （translated by TLRHVC）

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Strengthen mining administrations and push forward prospecting breakthrough

Strengthen mining administrations and push forward prospecting breakthrough

Source: www.mlr.gov.cn Citation: www.chinaming.com.cn Date: Jan.14, 2014

On the morning of January 11^th, Xu Deming, vice minister of the Ministry of Land and Resources deployed the overall arrangement of 2014 land and resources during the second plenary meeting of national land and resources. Meanwhile, he put forward ten major tasks. He required that the management of mining administrations should be strengthened, and geological prospecting breakthrough be pushed forward in the line of mining.

"Mineral resources are the food and blood of industries. The simultaneous promotion of ‘four modernizations’ has increased the demand for mineral resources in a certain period". Xu Deming pointed that although prospecting breakthrough strategy had made important achievements, the supply and demand contradiction in China was still very outstanding, which resulted in high external dependency. So, based on domestic, mineral resources management must be further strengthened and the implementation of prospecting breakthrough strategic actions be speeded up to improve the ability of resource security.

First, it is to strengthen the management of mineral resources. The protection, rational development and utilization of mineral resources should be through mine administration management. The third round of mineral resources planning should be worked out, with the strengthening of access and constraints, optimization of exploration development layout structure. The mining right market should be promoted actively with the improvement of mining right transfer system. The mining right approval should be studied seriously. For example, what should be approved? Who should be approved? How to manage? Strengthen departments’ responsibilities. Perfect unified distribution system. Strengthen the dynamic monitoring of examination and approval, and explore the system of “approved by province and controlled by ministry ". Control strictly protocol transfer. Deepen the reform of mineral resources reserve management, and make clear the relationship among governments, institutions and intermediaries. Give full play to and strengthen the social supervision such as mineral inspectors. Strengthen the reserve and protection of preponderant mineral resources, and pay more attention to the role of the market. Weaken or cancel the administrative measures for the regulation of tungsten, antimony, rare earths and coal.

Second, it is to do a good job for geology survey. Strengthen the basic and public welfare geology survey. Carry out the regional development strategy, and increase the support of geological survey in west, northeast and poverty alleviation area. Focus on developing energy resources investigation and evaluation such as oil, gas and unconventional energy, and strategy area selection. Strengthen the basic support and integrated application of research. Develop deep prospecting, new technology, and new method for fast prospecting and exploration. Do a good job for geological data open and services in exploration area. Support the transfer of golden armed forces, and arrange the remove. Provide relatively stable working area to ensure the full workload.

Third, continue to implement prospecting breakthrough strategy, which has gotten good phrased results. Carry out three-year target assessment, sum up experience, analyze problems, and improve the strategy in time. Highlight key areas, energy and mineral resources which are in short supply. Promote the second stage work. Communicate actively with the treasury department to ensure the steady investment of central geological exploration fund, and optimize the management procedures of central geological exploration fund. Encourage the integrated exploration development of mineral resources such as oil gas, uranium ore, coal, and coal bed gas. Continue to improve the mining investment environment and encourage the introduction of social capital investment. Promote the classification and reform of state-owned geological exploration units, and gather all geological exploration forces to promote geological prospecting new breakthroughs.

Fourth, deepen the international cooperation of mining. Implement actively the strategy of "going abroad", highlighting key minerals, and countries. Implement overseas mineral resources risk exploration. Intensify mineral resources information service in foreign countries. Strengthen the cooperation with the competent mining department of important countries, and important geological international organization. Prepare for 2014 CHINA MINING and the APEC mining minister meeting. (Li Ping) （translated by TLRHVC）

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Review of the national geographical exploration work in 2013

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 3^rd, 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 28^th, 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 26^th, 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 1^st, 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 17^th, 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 18^th, 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 17^th. 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 12^th.

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 16^th, 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 18^th 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 5^th, 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 12^th 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

The approval of Shanxi Province’s shale gas geological survey and evaluation project

The first batch of potassic salt ore core got to the Nation’s Geological Sample Center

Start of the classification and reform of public institutions of Guangdong Geological Bureau

The first “top one hundred” geological prospecting units

The accomplishment of nation’s fully equipped areas drilling distribution diagram

Startup of the Guangxi Province “twelfth-five” rural drinking water safety and drilling project

A super-large gold mine was explored in Xinjiang

A world-class supersized tungsten ore was found in Jiangxi Province

Three Inner Mongolia geological exploration units established mining group

The regularity of ore formation and forecasting project results of Daying uranium ore passed acceptance

Major breakthrough in our nation’s uranium drilling

Two rare rubidium production regions were found in Guangdong Province

A super-sized gold and zinc ore was found in Xinjiang

Our nation will build important geological drillings database

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

Our nation found gold in siegenite for the first time

Our nation used drones for geophysical prospecting surveying

Our nation’s first shale gas venture fund was set up

Construction of our nation’s venture exploration capital market started

Ministry of Land and Resources declared to establish the third batch of package exploration areas

The largest strontium deposit in Asia was found in Chongqing

The Chinalco-Rio Tinto accelerated porphyry copper deposit prospecting

The largest coal field of Henan Province was found in Shangqiu

45 square kilometers of land in Qinghai Province contained shale gas

About CHINA MINING

Geological survey memorabilia of 2013

Geological survey memorabilia of 2013

Source: www.mlr.gov.cn Citation: www.chinamining.com.cn Date: January 02, 2014

Editor’s note: Some major events have taken place in 2013, our nation’s geological survey have made a significant breakthrough. However, the public are still unfamiliar with geological survey. They just get some information from brief news of social news. This is probably because geologists are obscure and they are not good at getting attention. Although they make great contribution, ordinary people cannot understand because of the expertise in this area. Therefore, social media are not interested in geologists. Nevertheless, as industry media, we know well the contribution of geological survey for the development of our nation, because it is basic work and beneficial for future. It is also an “engine” of long-term economic growth and the significance of many work results may show after several years. Next, we will review geological survey events of 2013.

1. Our nation made a thorough investigation of groundwater pollution in North China Plain

In early January, the state land resource survey project “Research and Appraisal of Groundwater Pollution in North China Plain” passed review with excellent result of 94 points. The project was carried out by China Geological Survey and Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, CAGS. Since 2006, project personnel took 5 years to investigate groundwater pollution of 144608 square kilometers with 1: 250 thousand areas, 23027.6 square kilometers with 1: 50 thousand key areas and collect7451 groups of groundwater samples in North China Plain. They evaluated the quality and pollution status of groundwater. This project was given high attention by the Party Central Committee and State Council, and got agreement by state leaders.

Comment: Groundwater in North China has been exploited excessively. At the same time, North China has dense population and heavy industries. Therefore, clean groundwater means a lot for the lives of residents and economic development. The results of the research were deep studies on groundwater in these areas after the research of groundwater and environment in North China Plain and made a thorough investigation of the groundwater organic pollution status in North China Plain areas. A series of groundwater sample systems and evaluation methods formulated by this project became important technical support and demonstration for nationwide survey and appraisal of groundwater pollution.

2. Four types of fossils in Luoping orictocoenosis were listed in priority protection in China

In January, four types of fossils in Luoping oricticoenosis were listed in Nation Protection List of Fossil Specimens(first batch) published by Ministry of Land and Resources. Dianopachysaurus dingshi, diandongosaurus acutidentatus and sinosaurosphargis yunguiensis were listed in the country first-level protected fossil specimens and ichthyosaur yunnan was listed in third-level protected fossil specimens. Luoping orictocoenosis was selected into the sixth batch of national geological park with highest score in 2011. Nation Protection List of Fossil Specimens (first batch) was published according to the demands and stipulations of Regulations on Protection of Fossil Specimens and Nation Grading Standard of Fossil Specimens and combining specific situaiton of protection of fossils specimens. The list was divied into three leves, 400 types of fossil specimens were listed in the first batch including 276 types in the first-level, 110 types in the second-level and 14 types in the third-level.

Comment: In 2007, Luoping oricticoenosis was found in middle Triassic epoch marine limestone in Luoping areas by Chengdu Centre of China Geological Survey. This oricticoenosis meant a lot to the study of marine organism’s revival and radiation from the end of Permian to early Triassic, after the great extinction of species.

3. Resources and environmental researches of Qaidam Basin found potassium accumulation areas

In February, “pre-research results of Qaidam Basin resources, environment and scientific drilling project”, which was accomplished by Yanhu Centre of Institute of Mineral Resources Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, got a series of environmental and climatic information of Qaidam Basin and promoted related metallogenic theory. This report was rewarded “Excellent” by experts and review committee. This project was a work project of China Geological Survey. Qaidam Basin belonged to Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Cenozoic salt lake lacustrine deposit areas and deposition thickness was biggest and continuous. This project utilized these advantages, combining these with Western geological survey drilling, carried out the research of Western systematic drilling coring integration.

Comment: Qaidam Basin is a “treasure bowl” containing abundant mineral resources. Sylvite is largely scarce mineral resources in our nation. The value of these researches was to verify the climate more than 1 million years before late pleistocene epoch was cold and wet or warm and wet in eastern Qaidam according to a series of environmental information. According to detailed researches on cold and warm saline minerals’ environmental index of 11 drilling sections in western Qaidam and comparison of regional and global events, researchers found Qaidam schott had a inverse “S” migration and aggregation pattern, formed two potassic accumulation areas, constituted multilevel schott pattern. The researchers developed continental facies potassic theory.

4. A monograph on major ancient lakes’ environmental evolution of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau published

On February 27, Major Ancient Lakes’ Environmental Evolution Sequence in Paleogene-Neogene of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was published by Geological Publishing House. This book was a comprehensive and systematic monograph on major ancient lakes’ environmental evolution in Paleogene-Neogene of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Academician Li Tingdong prefaced and thought highly of this book.

Based on field geological investigation and laboratory experiment analysis, the research team of this monograph comprehensively used stratigraphy, structural geology, chronological geology, environmental geology, remote sensing geology and other scientific methods launched a series of investigation on Paleogene-Neogene lacustrine facies stratigraphic distribution of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, evolution of ancient lakes, major ancient lakes chronological stratigraphic sequence, cause of basins, evolutionary process, evolution model, uplifted age of Himalaya mountains, altitude and speed, fluctuation of glacier in early Pleistocene, bottom margin of Quaternary, environmental evolution law and evolutionary phase in Paleogene-Neogene of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Then they confirmed progress and dynamics mechanism of rapid environmental change in Paleogene-Neogene of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and comprehensively analyzed response of global climatic change in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Comment: As our nation’s geological research hot spot, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is also a hot pot and frontier domains which got high attention from national field of geoscience and triggered fierce competition. In some degree, especially in geoscience and even whole fundamental research, the geological research on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau had global significance. This monograph provided important fundamental data for researches on evolution of the lakes in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, evolution of Yangtze River and Yellow River, palaeoenvironmental change in East Asia and global climate change and social economic development program of Qinghai, Tibet and other western provinces.

5. “Yellow River Delta Wetland Survey” won second prize in geological survey results

In April, project “Yellow River Delta Coastal Wetland System Integrated Geological Survey and Evaluation” won the second prize in geological survey results of 2012. Project team adhered to the principle of combining theoretical research and application practice, insisted on scientific research route which uniting “industry-university-research cooperation”. They carried out basic researches and at the same time, they explored ways of combining wetland systematic studies, govern and sustainable development, brought up constructive advices on protecting and repairing Yellow River Delta wetland system. All they had done played a significant role on preserving the ecological environment.

Comment: This project accumulated piles of important source material, achieved a lot research results, established related technical manual on our nation’s wetland research field and leaded disciplinary development by means of carrying out multidisciplinary comprehensive researches. Experts pointed out that sedimentary compaction and coast corrosion of Yellow River Delta coastal zone are two hidden danger for the safety of inshore oil producing region, coastal engineering defenses of relevant sections should be strengthened to ensure the oilfield production safety. Therefore, this project made sense for resource guarantee and environmental protection.

6. High-efficient development and utilization of mid-deep geothermal resources conference ended

On April 11, “the Second High-efficient Development and Utilization of Mid-deep Geothermal Resources Conference” which was held by China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and China Geological Survey and Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, CAGS ended completely in Beijing. The conference discussed development status of domestic and overseas geothermal resources, development advantages, potential of geothermal resources and advanced geothermal power technology.

Comment: In China, annual quantity of superficial geothermal energy was equal to 9.5 billion tons of coal, quantity of standard geothermal energy was equal to 853 billion tons of standard coal. Deep geothermy was the main existence form of geothermal resources. Only develop deep geothermy, can we open the enormous heat reservoir of the Earth. At present, geothermal energy development progressed rapidly all over the world. New Zealand, Indonesia and the USA enthusiastically developed geothermal energy, however Australia and Germany were not interested in geothermal energy. This conference had positive significance on improve the level of our nation’s geothermic studies and drive geothermal resources move towards large-scale development and utilization.

7. Geological map of China and Mongolia border realized seamless joint for the first time

On April, Tianjin Center of China Geological Survey edited geological map, structural map and mineral deposit map of China and Mongolia border of 1: 1 million map scale, then sent it to Mongolia Geological Survey. This achievement realized seamless joint of 109 stratigraphic units, 111 intrusive bodies and 119 fractures of two nations’ border areas in the history of geology and mineral researches in recent one century. It filled the blank of stratum, structure, magmatic rock belts and the division, comparison and series of geological maps of 1:1 million map scale of two nations’ border areas.

Comment: Mongolia was a scarcely populated area with abundant resources. In recent years, cooperative exploitation of mineral resources between China and Mongolia brought plentiful and substantial achievement. Border between China and Mongolia stretches 4676 kilometers with few people and abundant resources. Border areas were known to have 2220 orefields. This research played an important role on confirming type, scale and new metallogenic provinces and belts division of these ore fields. It was also important for fundamental geological researches and mineral exploration work of China and Mongolia border areas.

8. Ecological geochemical survey found abundant mineral resources in Hainan Island

In April, National key project “Ecological Geochemical Survey in Hainan Island” which was carried out by China Geological Survey and Hainan Provincial Government won the first on Science and Technology Progress Award of Hainan Island evaluated by Hainan provincial science and technology award commission. China invested 30 million Yuan in this large-scale fundamental, strategic and applicable key national project. This project would be carried out by Hainan Geological Survey. After implementing the project, a batch of prospective, innovative, fundamental and applicable achievements on environment, agriculture, resources, land utilization and other aspects provided important geochemical fundamental data and scientific basis for the construction of Hainan International Tourism Island.

Comment: Hainan Island is one of our nation’s two “treasure islands”. For years, Hainan Island is famous for its climate and scenery and becomes travelers’ paradise. This project carried out all-round ecological geochemical survey with multimedia, cross-system, multi-index and multi-time domain, and found 9575 square kilometers of selenium-rich soil which had highest national territorial area proportion of nationwide provincial level land in Hainan Island for the first time. This proved that Hainan Island was a “Selenium-rich Island”. Meanwhile, in Baodinghai prospect of Wanning, project ascertained our country’s first offshore uhligite placer deposit which had total resource value of 4 billion yuan and ascertained five zirconium and titanium ore bodies which had total resource value of 1.2 billion yuan. These proved that Hainan Island was not only a paradise for travelers but also a “treasure land” with abundant mineral resources and excellent agricultural edaphic condition.

9. Key laboratory of ground fracture and geological disaster decided open fund project.

In April, key laboratory of ground fracture and geological disaster open fund project of Ministry of Land and Resources was finally decided. This key laboratory followed the principles of “openness, mobility, alliance and competition”, would fund domestic and overseas scientific and technical workers based on open research environment of the laboratory, then carry on high-level research work to promote academic communication, discover and cultivate scientific and technological talents on ground fracture and geological disaster field of our country.

Comment: People were unfamiliar with ground fracture but we had seen an endless number of reports about “Tiankeng”. Geological researchers bore important responsibility in finding out causes and theories of “Tiankeng”, and scientifically preventing and controlling them. The research direction of this laboratory was based on Yangtze River Delta Plain, facing urban agglomeration or economic belts which source of water was groundwater, combing theory and practice, popularizing and applying high-grade technology, to realize overall improvement of ground fracture researches and balanced development of all research directions, finally built complete theory and technological method system of geological disaster prevention and control of ground fracture. Predictably, the successful completion of this project would present immeasurable scientific research.

10. Training class of ASEAN mine environment and ecological restoration wound up successfully.

On May 20, training class of ASEAN mine environment and ecological restoration and control ability which was held by Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, CGS successfully wound up in Kunming. It lasted 10 days. 13 representatives of institutions of geology and mineral, geological environmental management, survey and academy joined the training. They came from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos and so on. The training combined seminar discussion with visit and investigation. Experts systematically explained the plan of mine geological environmental survey, restoration and control; technical requirements of mine geological environmental survey norm, restoration and control; theory and technique of mine geological environmental remote sensing and mapping as well as mine geological environmental information. During the training, trainees visited the construction of Kunyang green phosphorite of Yunnan Phosphate Chemical Group.

Comment: Our nation is a neighbor of ASEAN countries. We are linked by rivers and mountains and have good neighborly and friendly relations. We have good cooperation in every respect. It is necessary for neighbors and friends to contact, communicate and exchange constantly. This training class promoted communication between our nation and ASEAN countries and laid a solid foundation for cooperation on mine environmental area. It also laid a foundation for cooperation on geology such as land subsidence and exploitation and utilization of groundwater resources, geological environmental mapping and offshore area geothermal resources.

11. Southern Meso-Cenozoic basin structure of the East China Sea continental shelf basin was ascertained

In May, project “research on Southern Meso-Cenozoic basin evolution and geological structural features of the East China Sea continental shelf basin” was passed appraisal. It was carried out by Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS and got a series of innovative achievements. The project provided detailed and accurate fundamental date for future oil detection breakthrough in this basin. It lasted 4 years, completed gravity and magnetic date processing and interpretation of 13 million square kilometers as well as two-dimensional seismic date and interpretation of 16000 kilometers and tackle key problems of seismic date of 760 kilometers.

Comment: The East China Sea is our nation’s important strategic electoral district of oil and gas resources which contains abundant oil and gas resources. The achievement of this project will lay foundation for further researches on Mesozoic group geologic structural tentonic characteristics and evolution of the East China Sea continental shelf basin as well as perspective evaluation of oil and gas resources and other work. It also indicated directions for the work of strategic electoral district of Mesozoic group, at the same time, provided fundamental date for exploration, development and planning of oil and gas in our nation and for enterprises which focused on commercial exploration and development of oil and gas.

12. The first shale gas exploratory well of Jurassic system in northwestern continental facies was spudded in

On April 20, Chaiye No.1 well with design depth of 2800 meters was spudded in. This was not only the first shale gas exploratory well of Jurassic system in northwestern continental facies, but also the first shale gas exploratory well implemented by Oil and Gas Survey, CGS. It symbolized shale gas exploration and exploitation of the only national nonprofit investigation team made substantive steps.

Comment: Expected work results of exploratory well would correctly reflect geological condition of shale gas reservoir in this area and have a guidance effect on potential evaluation and advantageous district optimization of shale gas resources in this series of strata. According to follow-up messages, the second shale gas exploratory well—Deye No.1 well was spuded up on the evening of August, 11. The intense work showed the importance of shale gas resources.

13. The deepest scientific misering of continental shelf in our nation’s eastern part was completed successfully

On June 27, the “continental shelf scientific misering project” which was undertook by China Geological Survey and Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS ended offshore drilling of scientific drilling CSDP-01 of continental shelf in south yellow sea. The drill-hole was finished in 300.1 meters. The expected goal of drilling quaternary stratum in seabed was implemented successfully.

Comment: In our nation’s Cenozoic geological evolution history, key of tectonic movement and other geological problems lay in longish geologic record got from continental shelf. But so far, the deepest coring hole in continental shelf shallow sea area only exposed continental shelf stratum within 200 meters, and rock core length of most geological drillings were shorter than 100 meters. Therefore, long borer auger was desiderated to fill this blank. This time, first drilling’s total footage of scientific drillings in China continental shelf was more than 300 meters, total coring rate reached more than 80%. It is the deepest whole coring scientific drilling in China continental shelf as well as the first drilling of quaternary whole rock core on continental shelf area. It not only accumulated valuable experience for geological longhole construction of quaternary system whole coring in offshore area, but also provided precious samples for new breakthrough of quaternary scientific researches in our nation’s shelf sea.

14. Accumulation type bauxite was firstly found in North China

In July, relying on geological survey and appraisal project “geological survey and available research on middle and low grade bauxite in Dengfeng- Xinmi areas in Henan”, under the guidance of the experts in Tianjin Geological Survey Center, Zhengzhou Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources found accumulation type bauxite in Yuzhou, Jiaxian, Baofeng and Lushanxian area in Henan. The accumulation type bauxite had certain geological reserves and broad development prospect. This type bauxite was firstly found in North China.

Comment: The discovery of accumulation type bauxite in Henan eliminated the old understanding that accumulation type bauxite was only existed in southern part of China. It meant a lot for prospecting accumulation type bauxite in North China. The newfound accumulation type bauxite had higher grade, silica-alumina ratio was higher than 7, and had features of easy selection and easy exploitation. Reclaiming the accumulation type bauxite in farmland after being exploited would contribute to soli improvement.

15. Remote sensing was completed in 9 islands of Xisha Islands

Between June and July, project team “Sansha islands and reefs remote sensing survey and monitoring” of China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Land and Resources spent half a month in remote sensing survey of 9 islands in Xishaxuande Islands area of Sansha. Xisha Islands was a special area without business development. This project team had 9 islands, 5 of them were uninhabited island. Although facing all kinds of difficulties, project team punctually finished a detailed survey on water front, fundamental geology, vegetation and land resources of Xisha reef islands, established interpretation sign, carried out bathymetry in Zhongdao and Nanshazhou. They laid the foundation of follow-up work.

Comment: On June 21, 2012, approved by State Council and announced by Ministry of Civil Affairs, prefecture-level city Sansha was established and government was located in Yongxing Island which was in Xisha Island. This field survey was strongly supported by local soldiers and civilians as well as the new-found Sansha Municipal Government. Without the concern and help of local municipal Party committee and government, frontier armed police, fishery administration and fishermen, it was impossible to finish the work as planned. Certainly, these geological results would provide fundamental data and basis for the construction of Sansha.

16. Diamond prospecting plan would be introduced

On July 18, news from diamond prospecting deployment seminar of Tan-Lu fault zone (Su-Wan section) showed that CGS would work out nationwide diamond prospecting plan (the latest news indicated that the plan had passed by experts’ proof at the end of December). CGS would comprehensively take all measures to carry out prospective study, strengthen anomaly verification, realize new breakthrough of diamond prospecting; in Liaoning, Shandong, Anhui and the provinces had relatively high working level and more clues of diamond prospecting, selecting prospecting target areas which were expected to get breakthrough in the near future, focusing on evaluation, reinforcing engineering verification, accelerating breakthrough of diamond prospecting and putting plans into action.

Comment: Diamond is a type of scarce and valuable mineral resources. Because of its hardness, optics, electricity and other physical performances, it was used widely in metallurgy, geological drilling, machinery, optical instrument and other fields. Diamond is also important strategic resources of new energy, new material, information technology, space technology and other emerging industries.

17. Monographic results of provincial level potential evaluation regularity of ore formation were accepted

On July, monographic results acceptance conference on nationwide potential evaluation item provincial level potential evaluation regularity of ore formation was held in Beijing. The conference accepted regularity of ore formation research results of 30 provinces (cities and districts). Academician Chen Yuchuan, Pei Rongfu of Chinese Academy of Engineering joined the conference as evaluation experts.

Comment: This acceptance was both a thorough survey of nationwide 25 types of minerals and a comprehensive conclusion of key mineral products’ regularity of ore formation. The successful acceptance indicated monographic research of provincial level potential evaluation regularity of ore formation had came to a conclusion. It was reported that in follow-up work, a group which collected nationwide regularity of ore formation would carry out comprehensive research on nationwide minerals’ regularity of ore formation and present relevant results.

18. Research on geomorphology and environment of middle and small rivers into the sea started

On July, the key project “background data research on estuarine dynamic depositional geomorphology and environment of typical middle and small rivers into the sea” started. It was a national scientific and technological groundwork which was carried out by Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS and Tongji University. The project was aim to systematically collect and collate basic researches and monitoring date of our nation’s coastal typical middle and small rivers and off-shore estuaries in all historical periods, then complementally carry out field survey and monitor of typical estuaries, structure database and system of information of estuarine dynamic depositional geomorphology and environment of middle and small rivers into the sea. The project’s expected result could give a better understanding of estuarine evolutionary process and trend drove by nature and human activities, provide guidance for integrated management of estuaries and coastal zones. It also had significance on sustainable and disaster evaluation and prevention of estuaries and coastal zones.

Comment: Middle and small rivers research have became hot spot of researches on international rivers and coastal zones especially researches on continental-oceanic interaction. Researches on middle and small rivers were not only supplement of the researches on big rivers but also the basic solution to geological regular problems of our nation’s marginal sea. The successful implement of this project meant a lot to sedimentology and prevention and reduction of natural disasters.

19. Our nation deployed 33 new work items of uranium ore prospective study

On September 3 to 4, deployment seminar of nationwide sandstone-type uranium deposit prospecting work was held in Tianjin. The seminar comprehensively summarized development of uranium prospecting on strategic districts and staged achievements of prospecting, deployed and promoted nationwide sandstone-type uranium deposit prospecting work. The seminar reported working result of prospecting districts and uranium resources survey in the previous stage, discussed metallogenic process studies and thoughts of ore-preserving sand body and uranium-bearing fluid coupling in the basins of Northern China. Concrete implementation plan of working item in 2014 was also discussed in the seminar.

Comment: Uranium ore is a very important strategic resource. At present, uranium prospecting work have got breakthrough in our country, prospecting districts and drilling verification has significant results. All of these indicated huge potential of uranium-type prospecting in Northern China’s Meso-Cenozoic basins. In 2012, we achieved impressive results in Daying uranium ore. Nationwide expansion and deepening of uranium prospecting study and innovation of theoretical research level, technical route and methods would lay foundation for the realization of breakthrough in uranium prospecting and provide powerful resource guarantee for national economic development.

20. The quantity of geological national primary standard substances in our country have reached 434 types

In October, 39 types of geological standard substances of 8 series developed by National Research Center for Geoanalysis, CGS and other 5 geological laboratories passed final judgment of national primary standard substances which organized by national standard substance management committee. At present, the quantity of geological national primary standard substances have reached 434 types, ranking the second in 13 types national primary standard substances, accounting for 24%, was next only to environmental national primary standard substances. According to information, our nation planed to develop all kinds of urgent and typical standard substances on geological and mineral profession which amounting to about 400 types to insure the accuracy, reliability, comparability and effectiveness of test results of geological mineral resources, then promote work level of geological experimental testing technique and guarantee the service ability.

Comment: Geological and mining experimental testing technique standard could be divided into literal standard and material standard by vector. Material standard mainly indicated standard substances which were material standard or scaleplate of affirming analytical method, traceability of value, equipment calibration, period investigation and evaluating testing results. It played a key role in realizing the traceability of testing results, guaranteeing the veracity and comparability in time and space of testing results, realizing international mutual recognition of testing results. It was reported that 41types of 9 series of geological standard substances passed the final judgment of national primary standard substances this year. They were traceability of value and data quality monitoring of geological mineral exploration, environmental evaluation, ore-processing, trade and relevant departments using as chemical component analysis. They were also basic constituent parts of quality system of chemical component analysis of geological samples of geological and mining industry, and important technical support for geological prospecting breakthrough.

21. Sample analysis of groundwater pollution stepped into standardized management

In November, Quality Control and Technical Requirements for Research, Appraisal and Sample Analysis of Groundwater Pollution passed review by experts from China Geological Survey. It was carried out by National Research Center for Geoanalysis and China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and symbolized that the quality control and technical requirements for research, appraisal and sample analysis of groundwater pollution stepped into standardized management. These technical requirements stipulated basic requirements for quality control for research, appraisal and sample analysis of groundwater pollution and quality control of interior and exterior laboratories. They were suitable for testing the quality control of groundwater pollution research, appraisal and sample analysis. They also applied to the confirmation and quality control of technical competence of laboratory groundwater pollution research, appraisal and sample analysis for responsible organ.

Comment: The standards and requirements played an important role in regulating quality control of groundwater pollution research, appraisal and sample analysis, promoting laboratory technique. They would effectively provide technical support for geological research and appraisal of nationwide groundwater pollution.

22. Northwestern mineral resources potential evaluation was completed with high quality

On December, results of northwestern mineral resources potential evaluation passed expert review which was organized by Mineral Resources Potential Evaluation Office of Ministry of Land and Resources, China Geological Survey and Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences with high score, and ranked the first in six districts across the country. This project was one of the six-districts projects of “Mineral resources potential evaluation” which were important national condition survey carried out by Ministry of Land and Resources. It would last 8 years and had main duties with seven stages. 78 project technical experts organized 9 professional researches, adopting polynary geological information integrated forecasting technique and computer software date forecasting, finished forecast and potential evaluation of 23 types of minerals in northwest district with 1:250000 map scale.

Comment: Northwestern region is both important metallogenic province and energy resources substituted base in our country. This project analyzed resources potential and prospecting direction of important minerals and minerals with advantage in northwestern region. And the project integrated predicted types of 23 minerals in northwestern region and forecasted future mineral exploitation base.

23. Appraisal of 2013 China geological survey achievement awards ended

On December 9, final judgment of 2013 China geological survey achievement was held. China geological survey achievement awards were established by China Geological Survey in 2012 and were divided into four types: fundamental geology, mineral geology, hydrological-engineering-environmental geology and geological science and technology. These annual awards represented the highest level of our nation’s public and fundamental geological survey. This time was the second term of China geological survey achievement awards. Lists of 19 first prizes and 80 second prizes voted by final judgment would be published after publicity. In this review, the judges were 25 academicians in the industry, staffs in the departments involved in the campaign could not be judges, inservice managers in China Geological Survey should quit the judge. Result of the first prize recommended by professional group replied by remote video.

Comment: Justice and profession were value and life of a reward. We hoped that later awards in the industry could learn from China geological survey awards, let the winners be repaid in full for everything they have given, let the people who din not win the prizes be sincerely convinced.

24. Geological date library released 3.3 TB information to public free of charge

Core digital system of geological data library—digital geological data library system passed achievement acceptance review organized China Geological Survey on December 10. The review group was composed of several academicians and senior experts and former chief engineer of Ministry of Land and Resources and consultant of the State Council Zhang Hongtao held the post of group leader. They spoke highly of the project achievement. This was a public Earth science information management and service system which released Earth science survey achievement of government to public. At present, geological date library could provide 100000 types of and 3.6 million pieces of geological date information, data volume reached 31.5 TB. By this project, almost 18000 types of and 50000 pieces of information could be directly published to the public free of charge, the sum of the date reached 3.3 TB. The information included fundamental geology, mineral resource exploration, geological tourism resources survey, water exploration in water-deficient areas, agricultural geological survey data and popular scientific material of Earth science.

Comment: Geological data released to public was an important step. Geological data were a type of fundamental service. As long as they did not involve national secretes, these geological data should be provided much more to the public. It would beneficial to the economic development and social progress. It could also provide convenience for people and popularize geological science knowledge for the public. At the same time, it was an urge for relevant departments to change functions and serve the public. (Sun Lei) (translated by TLRHVC)

About CHINA MINING

Great events of global mining industry in 2013

Great events of global mining industry in 2013

Source: www.mlr.gov.cn Citation: www.chinamining.com.cn Date: Jan.2, 2014

Editor’s note: in 2013, mining industry had not got any good luck, the dream that the price of minerals raised prudently was smashed with a depressed market. Mining companies performed poorly and even the notorious splurge of mining giants slowly faded away.

2013 is a year during which energy and important mineral materials had taken great changes, situation complicated and market adjusted. International and domestic markets appeared three ups and three downs: Crude oil, iron ore, 10 kinds of non-ferrous metals production went up, domestic investment in mining industry continued to grow, imports of Copper, iron, coal and other bulk commodities rose. Meanwhile, base metal prices and mining stocks continued to fall, domestic and foreign geological exploration declined.

2013 has gone, but when we look back, there are something memorable. Today, we sort out some big events of the mining industry happened last year, maybe not fully, hoping to give some hints for the development of the industry.

Here we wish China’s mining good luck in the coming year!

The state council deployed the control on the total energy consumption

In January 30, the state council executive meeting studied the deployment of control on the total energy consumption. The meeting proposed that we should base on mode transformation and structural adjustment, fully give play to the role of market mechanism, optimize the industrial structure and layout, promote energy production and consumption revolution, speed up the formation of total energy consumption intensity and the double control mechanisms. The meeting agreed the target put forward by the national development and reform commission: by 2015, the national energy consumption of standard coal be controlled under 4 billion tons.

Comments: Energy is the lifeblood of the economy, to control the total energy consumption means the restrictions of economic growth. In recent years, China`s energy consumption has maintained a huge increment. But due to the unbalanced development throughout the country, local governments are powerful interest subjects, as well as the spokesman of related interest subjects in their respective jurisdictions. On the issue of local development, they would never compromise easily. So, despite the target of top decision-makers, control on the total energy consumption still has a long way to go.

The longest Coal conveying pipelines in the world was to be built in Yanan

In early march, Shenwei pipelines, the world`s longest, Asia`s first long distance coal conveying pipeline, started soldering in Shaanxi province Huanglong county, marking the coal project officially started. China petroleum pipeline company undertook the project. The pipe started from Shenmu in north to Weinan in south and had a total length of 80.56 km and a diameter of 610 mm.

Comments: After being turning into coal slurry, coal can be transported by pipeline, which will greatly ease the intensity of railway and highway system, lower transportation cost and solve the problem of northern coal transporting to south in Shaanxi. Besides the advantages of low investment, quick construction, low freight, the project is also environmentally friendly. Before, the raw coal transportation relied mainly on railway and highway in our country, Although pipeline had long been argued, it has not been implemented. If this pattern of coal transportation can be replicated in other places, it will trigger a revolution.

The first transformation and relocation project of independent industrial and mining area startup

On April 11, the national development and reform commission announced on its web portal, recently it would issued "on the implementation of the first transformation and relocation project of independent industrial and mining area notice (d&r in northeast [2013] no. 680), the first independent industrial transformation and relocation project officially started. The announcement proposed that we will try to achieve the target within ten years, fundamentally improve the basic development conditions and the basic living conditions of the masses of the independent industrial and mining area.

Comments: Independent industrial and mining areas refer to production and living quarters whose economic and social function are relatively independent. They rise up from mineral resources exploitation, taking resource extraction processing as dominant industry. The areas are far away from the city center, mining workers and their families being the main body of he residents. But at the moment, most of the resource reserve of the areas decline sharply, severely restrict the development and urgently require the national special policy support. the start of transformation and relocation project is a strategic action for advancement of modernization process and the construction of a harmonious society, meaning that the problems calculated for many years in independent industrial and mining areas will be readily solved.

China`s largest coke oven gas to methanol project was completed

In May 2013, in a coke oven gas to methanol project, Shanxi Coal Chemical Group, Huangling Mining Coal Chemical Company produced successfully 300,000 tons of qualified refined methanol. The project, began in June 2011, is a key part of the circular economy strategy of Huangling Mining Company, and a large scaled integrated utilization of resources project of the company, also the leading one of the ten large projects in the construction of circular economy park in Shaanxi province. It plans to produce methanol 800 to 900 tons daily, 300,000 tons annually, and annual output can reach 735 million Yuan.

Comments: This is by far the largest coke oven gas to methanol project in China. The project has fundamentally reduced the environmental pollution caused by the unloading of coke oven gas, and promotes the development of relevant industries, conforms to the developing direction of industrial structure adjustment, achieving a good environmental benefit, social benefit and economic benefit. it has very important significance for the development of new coal chemical industry in our country .

China`s first design specification of metallurgical mine release

The draft of the specification was held by North China Metallurgical Engineering Technology Co., Ltd, China Metallurgical Sky International Engineering Co., Ltd., Northeastern university, Wuhan Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics(Chinese Academy of Sciences), Mining Branch co. of Meishan Metallurgy Development Co., Ltd., Luzhong Metallurgical Mining Co., Ltd and Panzhihua Steel Group Mining Co., Ltd participated. National standard of the metallurgy mining design specification GB50830-2013 was officially launched. The specification was enforced from October 1, 2013, part of which part is mandatory provisions.

Comments: As China`s first metallurgical mine design specifications, the "specification" promoted technological progress and innovation, improved the design quality and ensure production safety and reasonable utilization of resources. it ensures the mine design meet the requirements for the development of market economy and the high level of national standard. The release of the specification would provide strong technical support for the national metallurgical mining design guidelines and policies.

The central government appropriate billions to support the transformation of resources exhausted cities

The ministry of finance announced on its website in early July, 2013, the total payment the central government transferred to the resources exhausted cities was 16.8 billion Yuan, an increase of 5% over the previous year. It is known that in order to help the resource-exhausted cities to lighten historical burden and accelerate its transformation, according to the spirit of "state council`s opinions about promoting the sustainable development of resource-based cities (guo fa [2007] no. 38)" , in 2007, the central government set up transfer payments for the resources cities. After the approval of state council, 69 cities(county and municipal districts) like Fuxin, Liaoyuan, Yichun, Shizuishan, Fushun, Wuhai, Zhong Xiang, Wanshan area, Jingxing mining area would gradually be incorporated into the scope of transfer payment in 3 phases.

Comments: according to the type of resource depletion, non-agricultural population, province`s financial status, degree of the city`s financial difficulties, and other objective factors, transfer payment funds would be distributed in a formulaic way to the cities .Through the implementation of the transfer payment policy, typical resources cities like Fuxin, Fushun, Yichun, Shizuishan could pay the infrastructure debt accumulated for years, resolved some historical problems, implemented people-benefit project that had been planned for many years. Practice proved that the transformation of resource-dependent cities can not only improve the lives of tens of millions of people, but also create huge demand, answered multiple purpose.

Deep uranium exploration technologies made great breakthrough in China

On July 17, China national nuclear corporation announced in Jiangxi, Fuzhou, the first scientific deep drilling of uranium mine in our country made it to 2818.88 meters of drilling, breaking the former 1200 meters record. According to introducing, in addition to the updated record of mining depth, the equipment of this deep prospecting adopted the independent research and development of drilling equipment, its intelligent, digital level had filled the domestic blank in this field; In the drilling technology, it found lead and zinc copper poly-metallic ore for the first time, also for the first time to create core mineralized alteration hyper spectral identification technology, etc..

Comments: This breakthrough filled the gaps in deep uranium prospecting technology in our country, had far-reaching significance for the improvement of the guarantee degree of domestic natural uranium and meeting the needs of nuclear power development. Continental scientific deep drilling is known as the "telescope" going deep to the inside of earth. For a long time, the depth of the uranium exploration in our country is no more than 500 meters, which was far left behind France, Germany, Canada and other foreign countries in deep prospecting technology. The deep prospecting technology breakthrough greatly expanded the space of prospecting uranium resources.

China got the exploration rights in west Pacific rich cobalt crust mine

On July 19, in the 19th annual meeting held in Kingston, Jamaica, the international seabed authority approved China`s apply of exploring in west Pacific rich cobalt crust mine. It was proposed by ocean mineral resources research and development association in 2012. Rich cobalt crust，On the surface of the rock surface of seabed mountainous area, is rich in cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper and other elements of shell deposit, mainly composed of iron and manganese oxides, distributed mainly on slope and top of sea mountains between the depth of 800 meters to 4000 meters. the rich cobalt crust area where we got the exploration right locates in the western Pacific seamount area, there distributed the largest rich cobalt crust resources known for now and covers an area of 3000 square kilometers.

Comments: Since its foundation in 1994, the international seabed authority successively put forwards stipulations regulating three main mineral resources exploration: regional poly-metallic nodules, poly-metallic sulfide and rich cobalt crust. Previously in 2001, china got exploration rights in poly-metallic nodules mining area in the northeast Pacific Ocean. In 2011 China got exclusive exploration rights in poly-metallic sulfide mining area in southwest Indian Ocean .This success in achieving the exclusive rights of exploration and priority rights of the mine area makes our country the world`s first to have exclusive exploration mine lot concerning the three main international seabed mineral resources.

Eight departments jointly combat violation behavior of rare earth industry

The ministry of industry and information technology, the ministry of land and resources, the ministry of public security, environmental protection, the general administration of customs, state taxation administration, state administration for industry and commerce, the state administration of production safety supervision and management joint together to carry out a "specific project of hitting the violation behavior in rare earth mining, production, circulation". the action would carry on from 15 August to November 15 in full swing across the country.

Comments: Chaos in rare earth industry has always been criticized. The specific project focus on attacking illegal mining rare earth behavior, reorganizing illegal production behavior, cracking down on violation behavior in circulation, sorting out enterprise doing waste recycling and comprehensive utilization of rare earth product, fighting against illegal benefit chain and checking the implement of regulatory responsibilities. Previously multi-sector joint strike were carried out many times, but the effect was not satisfactory.

Quality problems were frequently found in china`s imported iron ore

General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine releases a news: in the first half of 2013, Inspection and Quarantine Bureau in Hebei Province Jingtang Office inspected 405 batches imported iron ore, among which there were 178 batch unqualified goods,no coincidence rate is 43.95%, unqualified goods accounted for 35.36% of the total weight and it also accounted for 33.55% of the total value. We have also learned that in the first half year, among the Mexico iron ore imported through Beijing and Tianjin port, the unqualified rate is as high as 100%, of the 14 batches of imported Mexico iron ore, total iron difference can be as large as 4.94%; more than 90% of the imported iron ore from Brazilian had been detected Mingshui. Ore imports from southeast Asia and Mexico had relatively higher sulfur content.

Comments: As early as in 2009, the percent of pass of imported iron ore quality that related department released was only 51%. The China iron and steel association had also accused that China`s imported iron ore grade became lower and lower, the quality was worse and worse. In recent years, the three major international mines, relying on their monopoly position, continuously raised ore price. Although the price of imported iron ore fell a little, it remained in high level, which gave domestic steel mills a heavier burden. therefore, our country began to import iron ore from other countries, while good quality could not be ensured.

Seven departments jointly deployed tailings comprehensive treatment

In mid-September, the state administration of work safety, the national development and reform commission, the ministry, the ministry of finance, the ministry of land and resources, environmental protection, south-north water diversion project office of the state council and other seven departments issued a document together, putting forward the next work target of tailings rectification action, it demanded each region research and formulate specific implementation plan for themselves, comprehensively diagnose and screen tailings in this region, get to know clearly the numbers of waste repository (no owner), closed repository, "trilateral" and "overhead" repository; besides, basically completed the 153 comprehensive treatment projects that the central government financially supported, and speed up the implementation of comprehensive treatment project about the hidden danger in the 790 unclaimed tailings; it is also necessary for us to Strengthen emergency management, and vigorously promote the rainfall regime monitoring ability to protect the tailings, accelerate the establishment of a defense linkage mechanism of emergency rescue for the tailings.

Comments: The dam breaks of tailings pond had frequently hurt Chinese people`s feeling for a time. In recent years, China`s dam safety and environmental protection is getting better. By the end of 2012, the number of the not-that-safe repositories in China dropped to 1223 from 4910 in the end of 2008, reducing 75.1%, the tailings` intrinsically safe level had improved significantly. Practice had proved that as long as the government and local authority attach great importance, there is no problem cannot be solved.

Our country for the first time found gold in siegenite

In early October, one gold team of armed police in copper gold deposit of Heilongjiang province gold factory found a new type of gold-carrying mineral---siegenite. Gold mining factory, located in the southeast of Heilongjiang province, is the armed police troop`s oversize gold mine exploration base and key research base. In the end of the 20th century, one gold team of armed police entered the mining area and had currently detected out 23 ore bodies of commercial value, 4 mineralized bodies, ascertained more than 80 tons of gold reserves. Experts` research results showed that deep inside the old factory copper gold deposits there still has good ore prospects, deposit reserve scale can be further expanded.

Comments: The discover of gold in siegenite is the first time in the world scope, filling a blank in the field of the gold prospecting. siegenite, as a carrier of gold ore body, is mainly seen in deep porphyry orebodies. Its average package of natural gold purity is generally higher than that of other gold carrier material. This theory research confirms that gold is metallogenic under the environment of high temperature and deep setting, which provided strong theoretical and practical significance for for broadening the thinking of golden prospecting.

Iron ore is formally listed on futures trading in our country

On October 18, iron ore futures traded officially. According to a notice issued by the Dalian Commodity Exchange, in initial stage, trading deposit iron ore futures contracts was temporarily set at 5% of the value of the contract, the contract`s limits of up and down 4% of the settlement price in the previous session, and the new contract would have its debut range of 8% of hang dish benchmark price.

Comments: Our country is the world`s largest iron ore importer, consumer, has the world`s most active spot iron ore trade market, and also has the unique advantages of listed physical delivery iron ore futures. As the world`s largest iron ore importer, this move will help us to improve iron ore pricing power. At present, the iron ore price in international trade is gradually realizing its marketing and Short-termism, fluctuation in price is frequent and fierce. The launch of iron ore futures can provide a safety function, as a result, the domestic enterprises can better manage price risk.

China`s first "shale gas industry policy" released

On October 30, the national energy administration in our country released the first "shale gas industry policy" (hereinafter referred to as the "policy"). It clearly incorporated shale gas development into national strategic emerging industries. The country would increase financial support to the development of shale gas exploration, and encourage all kinds of investment subjects to enter shale gas sales market, let the market decide the producer price of shale gas.

Comments: Having tasted the benefits of shale gas and then experienced the confusion and concern in the process of "tasting", the next phase, the development of shale gas commercialization in China will go to where? At the present stage, the government`s current attitude of developing shale gas has been very clear, supporting policies rolled out, localization of equipment and technology has also made a big breakthrough. The key to the next step is to reduce the cost of development continuously through various means. The shale gas industry policy, intended to remove the worry and open a new page for shale gas development.

The 15th China international mining conference

November 2-5, with "challenges, opportunities, development" as the theme, 2013 China international mining conference (15th) in Tianjin was held on time, a total of nearly 7000 representatives from all over the world presented.
Comments: With 15 years of development, China international conference on mining has become an important platform for the international mining industry to deepen exchange, enhance cooperation and embrace future development. Facing the "winter" of the mining industry, this conference is a bit like a gathering of global mining industry practitioners "talking to each other"," huddle for warmth".

China stopped approving new construction of coal mine whose annual output is less than 300,000 tons

On November 18, the general office of state council issued" opinions on the smooth operation of the coal industry". It provided strict standards for admittance criterion into new coal mine and stopped the approval of new coal below 300000 tons/year, coal and gas outburst mines less than 900000 tons/year. New mines must strictly fulfill the basic construction procedures, investigated the behavior of building before being approved, building a large mine with the permission of a small one. Mines should start from improving management of safe production, gradually phase out coal mines below 90000 tons/year, and close the mines without safe production conditions, accelerate the pace of closing coal mines with serious hidden dangers, like coal and gas outburst.

Comments: After nearly 10 years of rapid development, coal industry gradually get over the long-term losses, greatly changed the situation. But since 2012, the supply and demand situation of coal changed, the coal production declined, inventory kept high, prices dropped, corporate profits declined and accounts receivable increased. The new situation and new problems made it more difficult for the business operation and the risks were higher for smooth running. The economic slowed down and coal supply and demand situation became loose, the "opinions" was put forward. it would make positive effects on the restraint of disorganized development, improvement of supply and demand relationship, as well as a smooth operation of market.

"The sustainable development planning of national resource-based cities” came out

On November 12, the state council issued "the sustainable development planning of national resource-based cities (2013-2020)". It for the first time defined 262 resource-based cities in the country, and according to the difference in resource guarantee capacity and sustainable development ability, the resource cities were divided into four types: growth type, maturity type, recession type and regeneration type, which made development direction and key tasks clear for different types of cities.

Comments: This is the first time in China to put forward specialized planning in national level about sustainable development of resource-based cities, which was a great event in the field of sustainable development in China. it had great significance to safeguard national energy resources security, promote transformation of economic development mode, promote the new industrialization and new type urbanization and construct resource saving and environmental-friendly society. The planning meant the new stage of transformation of resources cities development.

China`s iron ore imports set a new record in November

Customs data showed that China`s iron ore imports in November 2013 is 77.84 million tons, rose 10.01 million tons from October, increased about 14.75%, rose 18.33% on year-on-year basis, refreshed September`s record of 74.58 million tons. Since 2013, China`s iron ore imports overall changed along with our country`s economy fluctuation. But in July 2013, China`s imported iron ore reached 73.14 million tons, a big increase from 10.84 million tons in June, leaped 26.4% from a year earlier, created the first "monthly imports hit a record high" in 2013. In August, imports of iron ore had dropped from last july, but there were still 69.01 million tons of imports.

Comments: The update rate of "record" was comparable with that of 2009, 2010 when iron ore negotiations were in the most intense moment. Iron ore import`s new high records showed that steel production enthusiasm remained high, the drop of raw material prices would not easily come. Therefore, this "high records" pushed international iron ore suppliers to increase prices, which for China`s steelmaking industry may not be a good thing.

For the first time china drilled out high purity "combustible ice" in offshore

On December 17, the ministry of land and resources announced to the media that marine geological science and technology personnel in our country for the first time, in Guangdong pearl river mouth basin in the eastern ocean, drilled out high purity natural gas hydrate samples (also called "combustible ice ").The occurrence of the natural gas hydrate drilled out this time were in the depth of 600 meters to 1100 meters below the sea floor, and it was located within 220 meters of two ledges, thickness of the upper layer was 15 meters, the lower layer 30 meters, controlled distribution area of 55 square kilometers. converted into gas, controlled reserve was 100 billion ~ 150 billion cubic meters.

Comments: The natural gas hydrates discovered this time had a variety of types and layers in one mining area, in addition to the thick ledge, high mineral content and high purity methane, it was rare in the world. With the rapid development of economy, energy competition has become the focus issue of the global political and economic. Exploration, development and the use of new energy is getting more and more attention of governments around the world. As a replacement of energy, "combustible ice" reserve in the global resources is very rich, equaling two times the amount of the total quantity of conventional fossil fuels that have now been ascertained in the world, such as coal, oil, natural gas carbon. To achieve the commercial development of combustible ice is to improve our environment. (Li Ping) （translated by TLRHVC）

About CHINA MINING

Serve the national resource strategy and promote the breakthrough of prospecting

Serve the national resource strategy and promote the breakthrough of prospecting

Source: www.mlr.gov.cn Citation: www.chinamining.com.cn Date: Dec. 31, 2013

Since the establishment of geological exploration fund seven years ago, especially since two years ago the issue of The Guideline of the Treasury Department in Ministry of Land and Resources on the Joint Coordination Mechanism of Geological Exploration Funds both National and Provincial Level, the national funds are working together and playing their positive role in solving the problem in prospecting, guiding and driving social investment, serving the national resource strategy and promote the breakthrough of prospecting, thus making the major force of financial funded financial fund venture exploration.

The third plenary session of 18 national congresses has approved The Decision on some Significant Problem to Comprehensively Deepen the Reform. Therefore, faced with new circumstances and task, how can the national geological exploration fund management organization play a positive role in a better way? Recently, the geological exploration fund management organizations hold a meeting to study the spirit of the third plenary session. On the spot, our reporter interviewed Cheng Weili, the director of the Central Geological Exploration Fund Management Center.

Reporter: This is the second year after the issue of The Guideline of the Treasury Department in Ministry of Land and Resources on the Joint Coordination Mechanism of Geological Exploration Funds both National and Provincial Level. Within the two years, how did the geological exploration fund management organizations of national and provincial level further develop the joint coordination mechanism, what significant achievements you have made and what are the existing prominent problems?

Cheng Liwei: In the past two years, the geological exploration fund management organizations of national and provincial level thoroughly practiced The Guideline and continually deepened the joint coordination mechanism by intensified communications and contacts. Since the scheming of The Guideline, we have summoned three geological exploration fund joint working meetings, published two annul Geological Exploration Fund Briefings in a row, and adapted various ways to enhance coordination and cooperation. According to the information statistics, the nation’s geological exploration funds are growing, the operating mechanism is being improving and the prospecting achievements are becoming prominent, all of which has played an important role in the break through prospecting.

First, the overall scale and input intensity is further expanded and increased. Till the end of 2012, 26 provinces (regions, cities) have established the provincial geological exploration fund. Combined the in national and provincial level, the total scale reached 39.9 billion Yuan, and the real investment reached 35.039 billion Yuan, relatively increased 20.9% and 30.53% compared with the previous year. In 2102, a 41.41 billion Yuan was put into the non-gas-and-oil mineral exploration all over the country, among which 13.271 billon from central and local finance. The national geological exploration fund has invested 7.27 billion Yuan, making 17.56% of the overall investment and 54.78% of the financial investment. The fund has become a main force of the financial investment to mineral resources venture exploration.

Second, the significant achievement of venture exploration. Till the end of 2012, the geological exploration fund totally invested 5884 mineral exploration programmed and discovered 741 ore fields, 386 large-scaled and 219 middle-sized. In Daying of Inner Mongolia, a historical breakthrough was made in the prospecting of the uranium mine, and the quantity of resource is increased, the scale of mineral deposit reaches the type of ulltra-large, making the largest uranium ore deposit in China. In Baotou Hadamengou of Inner Mongolia, the gold ore periphery general survey program prospects a quantity of68 tons. In Suzhou Langan-Chulan district of Anhui province, a significant progress shows three rock formations containing diamonds, a preliminary estimation of 200, 000 karat. In Huaheng county, Yanjiazhai mine lot of Hunan province, about 4.7 million tons of 333+334 lead and zinc can be found, a breakthrough of searching for lead and zinc north of Huayuan-Zhangjiajie fault zone. All in all, the national geological exploration fund has made a significant contribution to realize the three-year plan of prospecting strategy.

Third, the guiding and promoting functions are more and more apparent. The projects and finance continually incline to the earlier stage prospecting of high-risk minerals to exert its function of reducing the prospecting risks and explore effective ways to guide the joint investment with social funds, with the percentage of joint funds further increased. In 2012, the new cooperative projects of central geological exploration fund take 84.2% of all the new projects; the joint investments take 86.67% of the new investment; the percentage of provincial geological exploration fund investing cooperative projects increases to 21.72% from 13.38% of the previous years. As for the projects with achievement, the social funds have a strong will to participate.

Fourth, the operating mechanism and managing system are improving. The central geological exploration fund sticks to the running mode of “finance budgets and market operates ”, continually improving the management system of project assessment, organization and implementation, quality supervision, contract management, funds management and rights and interests disposal, which are based on the requirement of the marketing operation.

Fifth, the Joint Coordination Mechanism is coordinated and runs smoothly. Based on the experiment of 2011, in 2012, the central geological exploration fund management organizations continues to make joint projects and hold joint conference and carry out information exchange system together with the provincial territorial resources competent departments and geological exploration fund management organizations. There are 691 suggestions of joint projects and 226 pass the primary election. The joint working platform is further consolidated to enhance information exchange and communication. The overall function the national and provincial geological exploration fund is constantly fulfilled and reaches an obvious effect.

In addition, according to material provided by each province, the main part of the projects in 2013 is to continue the old ones. The new projects are less than before, the fund investment level drops slight, too. However, the provincial geological exploration funds also make some significant achievements in prospecting the periphery of Fuliang copper and tungsten ore in Jiangxi province, the periphery of Jiurui Wushan copper mine, Zixing Zhangjialong tungsten orein Hunan province, Jinchuan lithium ores in Sixhuan and Zhungeer oil shale in Xinjiang province etc.

In general, the geological exploration funds enjoy a good developing tendency and operate well. They have played a good role in national finance guiding the prospecting. However, there are still some problems to solve. Firstly, there is no unified understanding of the target of the geological exploration fund, thus hard to coordinate the developing requirement of the geological exploration fund and its function to regulate and control the policy. Secondly, the mining right registration of the fund’s projects requires a large workload and it takes a long to summit and get approved. Thirdly, restricted by the factor such as prospecting work period, industrial policy and mining right transfer plan, it takes a long tie to realize the achievements of geological exploration fund project.

Reporter: How is the operation and management of the central geological exploration fund and what achievements does it acquire in 2013? What is the direction of next step?

Cheng Liwei: In 2013, with the general plan of the prospecting breakthrough strategy as the center of our work, the central geological exploration fund adjusts its thinking of work, intensifies institutional improvement, improves administration, intensifies the origination, implement and management of the projects, and puts the responsibility and task in place, thus all the work has an significant progress and result.

First, the purpose and target of the projects deployment are further enhanced. By taking provincial joint project, the investment direction and key point get clear. 97 new or continued projects are arranged within the year, and together with the remaining budget of last year’s projects, a budget fund of 629 million is arranged. From the aspect of exploring new methods of prospecting, industry-university-research interaction, the close integration of project approval and implement, a corresponding mode of execution should be taken based on the special minerals, key regions and particular miner genetic conditions. For the two ore-concentrated area of the Zhuxi copper and tungsten ore and Xiangshan uranium ore, a focal is settled. Together with the Office of Land Resources, Geology &Mineral Bureau and nuke industry Bureau of Geology of Jiangxi province, as well as East China Institute of Technology, we set up the organizing and implementing organization, practice the specific project, match research subject, deploy from the whole and coordinate the growth. For minerals that are hard to break through such as diamond and chromites, we organize the experts to further prospect and strategically choose the region, optimize the pilot projects, combine the production, teaching and research together to tackle key problems and explore experience by spot operation. For the challenge of prospecting buried ore, we launch the eastern buried ore prospecting plan and put forward our work idea: firstly organize the experts to discuss for feasible prospecting though and technique; then choose some typical projects according to different regions and types; after the experts argue the prospecting plan, start to test the plan; if there is good result, enlarge the experimental region. Embracing the prospecting method of finding the coal and uranium at the same time, together with Tianjin Land Adjustment Center, on the basis of northern uranium ore prospecting in sand stone area, we cooperate closely with Ningxia Office of Land Resources, Geology &Mineral Bureau, and Shenhua Ningxia Coal Group to prospect the uranium in coal in Ningdong district; the verification work is carried out by further clearing out relevant rights and interests and promoting fund project. In a word, by various ways, we improve the project approval method; when highlighting the target of project deployment, it more important to play geological exploration fund’s leading and demonstrating effect in the prospecting thoughts and methods.

Second, a batch of project implementation achievements has been acquired. We fully enhance the track management of the project’s quality and result. In 2013, we carry out field work in a total of 82 projects and complete a drilling workload of 142 kilometers. A batch of important projects constantly expands their achievement. The general survey of Daying uranium ore in Inner Mongolia, reviewed by the (radioactivity) Reserve Estimation Center in Ministry of Land and Resources, shows that it is the biggest in China and one of the few in the world ultra-large type of uranium ore deposit. The three general survey results Panzhihua iron mine monoblock exploration area shows a substantial increase in the quantity of resource, and under the estimation of experts, a new 333 iron ore reaches 66.47 million tons, reaching the ultra-large type; 240 million tons of accompanying titanium and 6.84 million tons of vanadium both reaches the ultra-large type. New progress in the monoblock exploration of Wuzhengdao monohydrallite, of Dongshan and Mazongling are estimated as 66.47 million tons, both surpassing the large-scale; the mine lot of Huanxi mine lot is estimated as 30 million tons, with a prospect of continue expanding. The general survey work of Xinjiang Niebei nickel minerals shows a quantity of resource as 13.8 million tons, reaching the ultra-large type. In the Zhiduo County Duocai district of Qinghai province, the general survey of copper polymetallic deposit shows a deposit of 145,000 tons of cooper, 130,000 tons of plumbum and 220 tons of zinc, all reaching medium-scale. In Jinduo County Duogang Mountain gold polymetallic of Heilongjiang province, the results of general survey shows 50,000 tons of 333 molybdenum, with a perspective to reach the large-scale.

Third, the operations management of fund is further improved. Central Geological Exploration Fund Management Center has further improved the supporting institution on the fund projects’ organization and implementation. In the year, we make the project assessment method, design inspection method to comprehensively ferine the project assessment, authorized strength design, as well as the examining method, procedure and relevant format requirements. At the beginning of the year, together with the China Land Adjustment Bureau, we publish the notification on strengthening and improving the supervision work of fund projects to further improve the supervision mechanism. We have also drafted a notification for accelerating the deposition of fund project achievement for the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Finance, to further clear and definite relevant requirement of achievement disposal. Against the clear and definite problems in the operation and management of the fund, we systematically carry out schematic studies to improve the fund operating mechanism, in which suggestions are provided for the decision reference of the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Finance.

In the next period, the Central Geological Exploration Fund’s management will further implement the spirit of the third plenary session of the 18th NPC, analysis situation with scientific attitude, plan in advance, and take actions effectively. More attention will be put on the following aspects: one is to further improve the operation mechanism of the Central Geological Exploration Fund. According to the overall requirements of deepening reform, we will research the operation management of geological exploration fund under the new situation, make efforts to crack the problems existing in the management, and make full use of the policy. The second is to strengthen the management for the implementation of the funding project. Our management should closely around the national macroscopic layout. The key of the projects should be adjusted in time. Technical and economic demonstration on project stage, regulation during the implementation should be improved in order to raise the quality of work and prospecting effect effectively. The third is enhanced the application of the project results. Exploration results should be carded comprehensively. The related departments need to offer policies as soon as possible, and accelerate the pace of application so as to promote the fund run into a virtuous cycle.

Reporter: How should the institutions of Geological Exploration Fund understand the spirit of the third plenary session of the 18th NPC, and get the orientation for their management?

Cheng Liwei: The third plenary session of the 18th NPC is an important session during the decisive period of building an all-around well-off society. This session has passed the resolution for some important problems on comprehensively further reform. The resolution gives a comprehensive plan for the further reform of the development of the economic, political, social, cultural, ecological civilization construction, as well as the development for the Chinese Communist Party. It is a programmatic document for the Chinese Communist Party to lead the mass people fighting for the great dream of building an all-around well-off society. It is also an indicator for the management of the Geological Exploration Fund in the long run. Thus, learning and implementing the spirit of the third plenary session of the 18th NPC is and will be an important work for us. What we should do is figuring out the essence and the requests of the resolution, and working them out in our daily life.

Firstly, on the general idea about comprehensively deepen reforming, the resolution noted that “the fact that our country will stay in the primary stage of socialism for a long time should be the foothold of our reform”. In this way, it is safe to say that there will be an increased demand for mineral resources over a long term. As a result, the work of mineral resource management and geological exploration fund should conform to this trend. The management measures should be improved through playing the role of management and regulation actively. The management also needs to offer adequate resources for sustainable development through prospecting and wise use.

Secondly, the resolution lays stress on the principle of system, integrity, and cooperative. Our reform is a system which focus on economy, while has a comprehensive plan on economy, policy, culture, society, ecological civilization and the development for the Chinese Communist Party. As a part of economic work, the structure of mineral resource management and Geological exploration fund management must be perfected according to the reform direction of socialist market economy, at the same time, it should be suitable for the reform of ecological civilization and other reforms. Thus, we are expected to put the management of funding into the big setting of comprehensively deepen reforming and overall work of mineral resource management. We should study and judge the situation well and truly, make plans in advance in order to make sure that the fund management can be suitable for the development. As far as I’m concerned, we can put it in the following three aspects.

Firstly，we must coordinate resources exploration development work from the height of the overall economic and social development. Comprehensively deepen reforming, development of each career need balance. While the balance of exploration and management of resources is also needed according to the requirement of the economic and social development and ecological civilization. For this aspect, we can further divide it into three points. The first one is planning the “two markets and two resources” in domestic nation and abroad, implementing global resource strategy, coordinating the relation between focusing on our own country and globalization, forming a stable system of supply. The second one is planning the present and long run as a whole. The relation between the recent demand and the long-term security should be settled properly. Mineral strategy reserve should be promoted according to our natural resources as well as supply and demand to make sure that the resources security can be sustainable. The third one is planning the resource development and ecological environmental protection as a whole. The measures about eco-civilization should be implemented. The distribution of resource prospection and development should be scientifically projected. The mode of production on related industries should be transformed. The environmental protection after resource development should be improved. Thus, the course of eco-civilization can be pushed forward.

The second aspect is to properly handle the relationship between government and market economic system reform, the core issue of economic reform. It gives a direction to the management system of the fund. The resolution points out that the core issue of economic system reform is to deal with the relationship between the government and the market and make sure that the market plays a decisive role in the allocation of resources and the government can play its pole better. Since the focus of the reform is to solve the problem of an incomplete market system, excessive government intervention and incapable regulation. Geological exploration fund as the government regulation and control of mineral exploration means of the market economy, management system and operation mechanism will need to be adjusted and perfected according to improve the direction and the transformation of government functions, the requirements of market-oriented reforms in macroeconomic regulation and control. Of course, the reform of the system of finance and taxation will also affect the operation and management of the fund. From the view of transforming functions of the government, we must adhere to the principle of geological prospecting funds as a policy tool positioning, research more effectively guide, pulling the management mechanism of commercial mineral prospecting. It is necessary for the government to play the role of promoting market development, regulating important mineral exploration, balancing between income distributions of resources, but also to prevent excessive invention in the competition field, and hinder the development of market. From the perspective of adapting to market reform, we should adjust and improve the operating mechanism and management model of fund according to the development of mineral exploration market. In the current transitional stage when exploration market system is not perfect, especially when the exploration venture capital market is lack, the fund can take government investment pattern which adapts with it to solve the problem of market failure due to the exploration risk capital market has not yet been established and the lack of investment. We can also take the government investment for low risk of mineral and development of national protected mineral into consideration. The government carries out preliminary exploration, and then the results sold through the market. In this way, the government can play a regulatory role. For the scarce and high risk mineral resources, the government can offer subsidies to perform the role of encouraging the commercial prospecting. However, with the full development of exploration market, funds should return to its primitive role of a policy tool, in accordance with the requirements of the market economy, and perform under the government subsidy. In addition, according to the reform requirements of speeding up the transformation of government functions, and speeding up the classification of institutions, the state-owned geological prospecting units are determined to face reform in the future. From the view of promoting the reform of geological prospecting units, and cultivating mineral exploration enterprises, it is necessary to research and support the reform of the geological prospecting units when it comes to the investment and achievement distribution policy on geological prospecting fund.

Thirdly, accelerating the development of ecological civilization system construction put forward higher requirements for the organization and implementation of geological prospecting fund program. The "decision" that was issued by the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee, from the “five in one” strategic height of modernization construction, puts the ecological civilization system construction in a very important position. Therefore, the development and management of resources must be in accordance with the reform requirements of ecological civilization construction system, obey and serve the construction of beautiful China. First, in accordance with the requirements of the main functional divisions, we should do a good job in planning exploration and development of resources. As for the geological prospecting fund deployment projects, we should establish the concept of commercial prospecting and reserve exploration, according to the setting of national ecological protection zone, buffer zone and experimentation area, make a reasonable layout for the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, adjust the prospecting breakthrough point, to further increase the prospecting work of important ore concentration district and deep concealed ore in middle east region, properly develop reserve exploration in western area, strictly control the commercial exploration of ecological fragile areas of Qinghai Tibet Plateau, especially national ecological protection zone. Second, explore and establish the negative list management system of geological exploration fund deployment project, according to the space planning of all kinds of land resources, we should study and formulate areas that are not favorable to carry out mineral resources prospecting, important kinds of minerals for prospecting in different areas and minerals that are not favorable for exploration, strengthen the ecological environment condition argument of the project. Third, establish ecological protection concept of the exploration and construction, actively promote the " drilling of both coal and uranium", promote the rational development and utilization, guide and encourage the project unit to use advanced and applicable exploration technology to strengthen the natural environmental protection requirement in the process of the exploration of mineral resources, strengthen the ecological restoration of exploration field, and minimize the impact of exploration work on the ecological environment.

Reporter: Only when two stages of geological prospecting fund links together and make concerted efforts, can it play a greater role. What will the center do to deepen the two stages of geological prospecting funds coordination for the next step?

Cheng Liwei: Since 2011, two sections of “guiding opinions" were issued, under the joint effort of the central geological prospecting fund management center, the competent department of land and resources of each province (district, city) and the geological prospecting fund management institution, two stages of geological exploration fund linkage work already has a very good foundation. However, with the step by step implementation of prospecting breakthrough strategy action, it is necessary to further improve the linkage mechanism, strengthen coordination between two stages of fund, and jointly promotes prospecting breakthrough strategy action. At present, the key point is to grip more effort around improving the linkage work.

First, further expand the depth and breadth of information communication. We should build a platform for information exchange, and promote the exchange of information communication between Central authority and provincial geological prospecting fund. Next, we will preliminarily consider improving the national geological prospecting fund information exchange and joint meeting system, promoting the National Geological Exploration Fund website Unicom work, to create conditions for everyone to communicate.

Second, further deepen and consolidate project docking work. We should draw on the experience of main forms of the project docking work from the key breakthrough areas on the basis of project docking which mainly takes the form of project proposal and project examination in the last two years, further do the docking work solid from project implementation, project scheme, and project demonstration. Next, we will also promote the work of middle and areas’ prospecting and exploration of concealed deposits as well as drilling of coal and uranium in the north, to jointly play the exemplary role of prospecting idea and organization pattern of the fund project.

Third, explore the cooperation methods between two levels of geological exploration fund. According to the requirements of "guiding opinions", the prospecting cooperation between the Central and provincial geological prospecting fund mainly takes the form of horizontal connection and longitudinal connection; the former clarifies types of minerals and regions, while the latter is performed according to the working stages. Such cooperation is conducive to the coordination of two levels of fund exploration work, but seen from the angles of improving the implementation efficiency, quality and supervision level of new project, we can also explore to take the form of investment hors d’oeuvres of two stages fund project to cooperate closely, and take the cooperation mode of two stages of fund jointly engaged in pulling social capital, further promote the two levels fund to form a cohesive force, and jointly promote the prospecting breakthrough strategy. (Wang Qiongjie and Wang Jun)(translated by TLRHVC)

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Non-ferrous metal continuous trading operates formally online

Non-ferrous metal continuous trading operates formally online

Source: www.chinamining.com.cn Citation: www.chinamining.com.cn Date:Dec.24, 2013

The continuous trading of four non-ferrous metals futures, like copper, aluminum, lead and zinc, operated formally on line on December 20. This was the second time that we started the night plate of continuous trading after the gold and silver, which signed the step forward of the internationalization of domestic futures market.

With new varieties listed at the same trajectory, non-ferrous metal high continuous trading starts the day after, and the market transactions is rather active. Yang Maijun, chairman of the Shanghai futures exchange, said the launching of non-ferrous metal continuous trading varieties would provide deeper and a wide range of price discovery and risk management services. At the same time, it would promote the internationalization of the futures market and provide the service of the construction of Shanghai international financial center.

Yang Maijun said that as the smooth development of the precious metals continuous trading, the call for continuous trading market of nonferrous metals launched rising. From the perspective of the continuous trading operation of gold and silver, the continuity of the market price had been improved and the linkage between the price of gold and silver and relatively international market had become closer. Meanwhile, night plate continuous trade increased the participation of the market, which made institutional investors and industry customers increased participation of hedging.

"Continuous non-ferrous metal trade helps to strengthen the linkage of domestic and international market price, enhance the smoothness of price, thus change present situation of domestic non-ferrous metals enterprise in the international trade contracts signed in the London metal exchange prices as the present pricing benchmark, and further enhance the international influence of China price." Chen Quanxun,China nonferrous metals industry association, pointed out.

The Shanghai futures exchange said that the next step was to stick to the principle of "high standard and stable starting". On the one hand, we must strengthen normalized management of continuous trading operations to provide comprehensive service to members and investors. On the other hand, we should make the management of daily risk-control and perfect market regulation to ensure smooth running of the market.

“Continuous trading of futures market is to increase the trading hours from 9P.M. to 0 A.M. of the next day apart from the daytime from Monday to Friday`s working day trading time to make the domestic market trading hours cover the world’s major exchanges time. On the one hand, the continuous transaction can make time with international market further; on the other hand, the continuous trading also can strengthen the correlation of domestic and international markets to strengthen the domestic market price influence." Analysts have pointed out. (Chen Yunfu / Yao Yujie)（translated by TLRHVC）

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China may make commercial exploitation of "combustible ice" in 2030

China may make commercial exploitation of "combustible ice" in 2030

Source: www.mlr.gov.cn Citation: www.shangbao.net.cn Date: Dec.18, 2013

With the rapid development of economy, energy dispute has become the focus of the global political and economic problems. Exploration, development and use of new energy have got more and more attention of governments around the world. In the morning of Dec.17, the Ministry of Land and Resources held a news conference to introduce the China Marine gas hydrate exploration results. The officials of the Ministry of Land and Resources said that combustible ice was expected to replace oil and other traditional energy, and Commercial Exploitation of "combustible ice" would begin in 2030.

Natural gas hydrate, also called” combustible ice", is a kind of natural ice cage compounds and mainly distributed in ocean, a small amount of distribution in the land tundra. The appearance looks like snow, but can be lit. It is understood that 1 cubic meter of natural gas hydrates decomposition can produce 164-180 cubic meters of natural gas, which is a highly efficient clean energy and is known as the green energy in the 21st century.

As the replacement for energy, "combustible ice" in the global resources is very rich, and the amount of which has been proven two times of conventional fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas carbon. Che ChangBo, Deputy director- general of the Geological Exploration Department of Ministry of Land and Resources, said that recognized around the world, the large amount of natural gas hydrate should have 1 quadrillion cubic gas into natural gas. We knew that the amount of conventional natural gas in the world was 430 trillion (cubic), shale gas 187 trillion (cubic), CBM 260 trillion (cubic), altogether they had not reached 1 quadrillion (cubic) gross.

According to the introduction, China has rich coal, less petroleum and weak gas. With economic development, energy security has becoming increasingly prominent. At present, China has become a net oil importer for 20 years. In 2012, the dependency of imported crude oil is as high as 56%, and China has become the world`s second largest oil importer and second largest oil consumer.

Then, as a kind of high efficient clean energy, how many reserves of "combustible ice" in China? The participating experts said that through 15 years of investigation and forecast, it was expected to have 68 billion tons of oil equivalents of "combustible ice" in the south sea of China; In Qinghai region, we had found 35 billion tons of standard oil of natural gas hydrate. Han Xiaoping, China energy network information officer, said that considering the Qinghai Tibet plateau still had not proven reserves of resources, the region`s "combustible ice reserves would be bigger.

The Ministry of Land and Resources said that from June to September of this year, we successfully drilled high purity "flammable ice” for the first time in Guangdong pearl river mouth basin in the east China sea, the equivalent of 1000-150 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves. Che Changbo said “the natural gas in Beijing now is from the Ordos basin. The gas is about 5 trillion per 5 square kilometers, which equals 100 million per square kilometer. Now we see that about 20-30 billion per square kilometer square. Therefore, the abundance in this place is very high, which is equivalent to the level of upper gas siltstones in Sichuan. It makes a solid foundation for the early realization of natural gas hydrate development ”

Facing such a large reserves of natural gas hydrate, when it will be commercially developed has become the focus of the public attention. It is said that technical problems and extraction costs have become the bottleneck of the restricted countries exploitation of natural gas hydrate.

Although China has entered the advanced ranks of the gas hydrate investigation and study, we are still in the stage of key technology research and development in the aspect of mining. Zhang Haiqi, the director of the China Geological Survey Foundation, says that China is expected to realize the commercial development of the natural gas hydrate in 2030.

"According to the planning and research of the leadership team of Ministry of Land and Resources, our country could make breakthrough of gas hydrate development technology to adapt to the development scale, technology and equipment in the process of industrialization around 2020. The developed countries may be earlier. After about ten years, China is expected to realize the commercial development of the natural gas hydrate in 2030.

To achieve the commercial development of combustible ice will produce what kind of impact on the lives of ordinary people. Han Xiaoping, China’s energy chief information officer, believes that the significance lies in environmental improvement.

“Nowadays, the coal is cheaper. However, due to the smoke by burning, a lot of people may be sick which will spend large sums of money. Therefore, we had better spend more money on the using of clean energy than spend on the doctors in the future.（translated by TLRHVC）

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Strengthen mining administrations and push forward prospecting breakthrough

Review of the national geographical exploration work in 2013

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Great events of global mining industry in 2013

Serve the national resource strategy and promote the breakthrough of prospecting

Non-ferrous metal continuous trading operates formally online

China may make commercial exploitation of "combustible ice" in 2030

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