Completion of the Continental Deep-Drilling Project in the Songliao Basin (Well Songke-2) and Major Geological and Technological Innovations

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　　The Songke-2 well, drilled and completed under the leadership of Wang Wen Shi from the Institute of Exploration Technology, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, reaches a depth of 7,018 meters. It is the deepest continental scientific drilling project ever undertaken by an Asian country and also the deepest drilling project carried out since the establishment of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) 22 years ago. The project’s developed ultra-deep-well large-caliber core sampling technology system has overcome major technical challenges in deep-earth exploration, such as ultra-high-temperature drilling technology, and has set four world records. The project has discovered two types of clean energy resources with excellent exploration and development potential: deep shale gas in the Songliao Basin and basin-type hot dry rock. Moreover, it has achieved, for the first time globally, a highly detailed, centimeter-scale, high-resolution characterization of the most complete and continuous terrestrial strata from the Cretaceous period, reconstructing the climate evolution history of the Cretaceous period on land at millennial to tens-of-thousand-year scales and identifying significant climatic fluctuation events during the Cretaceous. Additionally, the project has established a “golden pillar” for stratigraphic correlation and proposed a new model for the evolution of the Songliao Basin, enriching the theory of oil generation in Cretaceous terrestrial environments and marking a major breakthrough in fundamental geological research.

　　The Loess-Paleosol Sequence in Lantian, Shaanxi—A New Record of Paleohuman Activity Dating Back 2.1 Million Years

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　　A team led by Zhu Zhaoyu from the Institute of Geochemistry, Guangzhou, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Huang Weiwen from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, together with researchers from both China and abroad, conducted 17 years of comprehensive geological research in the Lantian area of Shaanxi Province. As a result, they discovered an erosion surface in the loess deposits at the piedmont of the Qinling Mountains, which pushed back the dating of the Gongwangling Homo erectus skull—from 1.15 million years ago to 1.63 million years ago. Additionally, they identified a new continuous sequence of loess-paleosol profiles in the Shangchen region and uncovered 17 layers of Paleolithic cultural strata within the Early Pleistocene deposits, dating from 1.26 million to 2.12 million years ago. This makes the Lantian area one of the earliest sites outside Africa documenting ancient human activity. These findings have been published in "Nature" and "Journal of Human Evolution." The discovery of world-rare multi-layered Paleolithic cultural strata within the continuous loess-paleosol sequence in Lantian has opened up new avenues for China's already globally leading research on loess.

　　China’s first set of “China Natural Resources Atlas” has been completed.

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　　The first set of China’s Natural Resources Atlas, spearheaded and compiled under the leadership of Hao Aibing from the Water and Environment Department of the China Geological Survey, is the first in a series of natural resources achievements submitted following the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China’s proposal to “establish state-owned institutions for the management of natural resource assets and the supervision of the natural ecological environment.” The atlas comprises three series: a national volume, provincial and municipal volumes, and thematic volumes. It covers eight categories—water, soil, minerals, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and oceans—and includes a total of 2,316 maps. The atlas highlights three major innovations: First, it systematically organizes information on the quantity, quality, current status of development and utilization, and potential of China’s natural resources, with particular emphasis on the concept of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, and grasslands as a community of life and the green development philosophy, thus creating the first comprehensive and data-rich atlas of China’s natural resources; second, it has established a nationwide and provincial-level spatial database and information platform for natural resources, standardizing, vectorizing, and spatializing various types of natural resource data, thereby significantly boosting the level of information technology; third, it emphasizes application-oriented services, innovating map presentation formats and comprehensively enhancing the visibility and social service capabilities of geological science and technology achievements. These achievements have received high attention from the national government and relevant departments.

　　Major breakthrough achieved in deep exploration of the Jiaodong gold deposits.

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　　The research team led by Yu Xuefeng at the Shandong Provincial Institute of Geological Sciences has long been dedicated to gold exploration and deep-probing studies in the Jiaodong region. For the first time, they conducted an applied research focusing on deep-probing techniques—primarily using deep reflection seismic methods—in the northwest Jiaodong gold mining district. Through multi-parameter method trials, they verified the effectiveness of reflection seismic surveys in exploring deep geological structures in areas where granitic rocks are distributed, particularly for solid mineral resource exploration. Combined with deep drilling verification, they clarified the deep structural characteristics of key tectonic features such as the Sanshandao Fault, JiaoJia Fault, and Zhaoping Fault Zone, thereby revealing the deep geological structure and ore-controlling factors in the northwest Jiaodong mining district. They successfully carried out a scientific gold exploration drilling operation reaching 3,266 meters. At a depth of 7,000 meters along the dip and 3,000 meters along the vertical direction in the JiaoJia gold belt, they discovered a gold-bearing ore body 25 meters thick, with a maximum grade of 13.65 g/t—a feat that marks the deepest gold discovery ever achieved in China’s rock-type gold deposits. These findings have laid the foundation for achieving “transparency” in the geological structure of the Jiaodong region, enabling geophysical control within 35 kilometers shallowly and drilling control at the scale of 3,000 meters, thus representing a major breakthrough in deep gold exploration in China.

　　The new round of provincial regional geological surveys has been completed.

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　　The new round of compilation of the "Regional Geology of China," organized and implemented by Academician Li Tingdong of the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and Researcher Ding Xiaozhong, comprehensively and systematically summarizes more than 30 years of extensive new findings and data from regional geological, geophysical, geochemical, and remote-sensing geological surveys across China. This book features three major highlights: First, it provides a comprehensive overview of China's stratigraphic, lithologic, and tectonic framework, establishing a zoning of lithospheric structural units in China and a three-dimensional structural model of the eastern Chinese lithosphere, thereby harmonizing geological findings across different regions and making them readily accessible to various sectors of society. Second, for the first time, it highlights urban geological findings, delineating the Holocene marine-terrestrial evolution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Holocene environmental evolution in the Xiong'an area, thus supporting the development of the Xiong'an New Area. Third, it emphasizes marine geological research results, starting from the theory of oceanic plate tectonics, and systematically compiling geological findings related to marine areas, providing essential data and maps for China's port construction, seabed engineering, and seabed resource exploration. The book comprises a total of 32 volumes, over 200 maps, and 32 databases. Currently, 10 provincial-level regional geology reports—covering provinces such as Hainan and Jiangxi—have been published and are available for download, browsing, and sharing via "Geological Cloud."

　　Construction and Demonstration of a Modern Regional Geological Mapping Technology Methodology System

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　　The pilot geological mapping project conducted by a research team led by Chief Experts Wang Tao from the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and Hu Jianmin from the Institute of Geomechanics, which focuses on bedrock regions and special geological-landform areas, has broken new ground in specialized geological mapping. This project has addressed a number of critical geological issues, produced a series of high-quality map sheets, and generated significant impact both domestically and internationally. As a result of this work, six methodological guidelines for mapping bedrock regions and nine guidelines for mapping special geological-landform areas have been developed. Moreover, the regional geological survey methodology standards (1:50,000) have been revised, and a guideline for regional geological surveys in covered areas (1:50,000) has been formulated. Consequently, China has successfully established a new system of 1:50,000 regional geological mapping methods. This approach advocates that modern regional geological surveys should be guided by Earth system science and plate tectonics theory, fully leverage advanced technologies, and carry out multidisciplinary collaborative investigations to meet major national needs and tackle fundamental geological challenges. These concepts and methodologies have already been put into practice with excellent results, providing the basis, guidelines, and specific technical approaches for future reforms in regional geological surveys. This achievement represents a milestone in the development of regional geological surveys and mapping in China.

　　Significant progress has been made in the theory of shale oil enrichment, key technologies, and exploration of continental saline lacustrine basins in the Junggar Basin.

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　　Led by the Xinjiang Oilfield Branch of China National Petroleum Corporation, a collaborative research effort has been launched to explore the theoretical framework and key technologies for the enrichment of shale oil in continental saline lacustrine basins within the Junggar Basin. This initiative has innovatively proposed one theoretical insight and three supporting technologies: First, a theoretical framework for the enrichment of shale oil in dolomitic shale within continental saline lacustrine basins has been established, guiding the discovery of shale oil reserves totaling over 1 billion tons; second, a shale oil logging evaluation technology centered on the "seven-property relationship" has been developed, increasing the success rate of pilot production tests from 35% to 100%; third, a set of sweet-spot prediction technologies for shale oil, incorporating engineering geological parameters and hydrocarbon source rock quality, has been formulated, raising the accuracy of sweet-spot predictions from 70% to 100%; fourth, an integrated and innovative system of efficient drilling and volumetric fracturing technologies for shale oil horizontal wells has been developed, enabling highly efficient exploration and effective exploitation of saline-lacustrine shale oil. As a result, the daily production per horizontal well has exceeded 100 tons, and the cumulative oil production over a year and a half has reached 18,000 tons. Guided by these theoretical insights and supported by the associated technologies, the integrated rapid advancement of pre-exploration and evaluation capacity for shale oil in the Jimusar Sag has been achieved, with controlled reserves confirmed at over 1 billion tons, and the region has now entered the stage of large-scale production development.

　　The National Groundwater Monitoring Project has been completed and is now operational.

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　　The research team led by Li Wenpeng, chief expert at the Institute of Geological Environment Monitoring, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, has for the first time undertaken the nationwide construction of a groundwater monitoring network. The National Groundwater Monitoring Project has now been completed and is fully operational, marking a significant milestone in the history of hydrogeological exploration and research as well as in the development and utilization of water resources. At the same time, this project represents a major initiative aimed at improving people’s livelihoods and safeguarding ecological health. First, the team has established 10,168 nationally designated, layer-specific groundwater monitoring stations equipped with an IoT-based data reception and equipment management system, enabling automatic collection of groundwater monitoring data, real-time transmission, and multi-source data analysis. Second, leveraging cloud platforms and big data technologies, the team has developed a monitoring information application service system that facilitates comprehensive management of monitoring data, dynamic analysis, integrated evaluation of water quality and quantity, and information dissemination. Third, the team has pioneered and successfully implemented technologies such as pressurized self-flow well monitoring, and has formulated 12 standards and specifications for groundwater monitoring, thereby achieving breakthroughs in both theoretical innovation and technological methodologies.

　　New Progress in the Application Research and Demonstration of Geological Surveys on Land Quality in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province

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　　The land quality geological survey of Jiaxing City, organized and implemented by the team led by Chu Xianyao from the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Geological Survey, has become the first prefecture-level city in Zhejiang Province to fully complete the “711” land quality geological survey project. The team has developed provincial-level technical specifications for surveying and data archiving that are tailored to Zhejiang’s specific conditions. In conjunction with Jiaxing’s “Four Modernizations” initiative for enhancing land quality geological surveys, the project has successfully piloted applications in several key areas: leveraging survey results to support land-use planning at the county, township, and village levels; using survey findings to promote the protection and sustainable use of distinctive land resources; aligning core archival results with the “single map” system for land management; and integrating these results with Zhejiang Province’s agricultural product quality and safety traceability system. These pilot applications have addressed critical challenges in the transformation and application of survey results and have innovated mechanisms for such implementation. At the same time, the project has effectively integrated scientific research with public science communication, providing strong support for the establishment of the “Land Quality Research Demonstration Base” under the Agricultural Geological Application Research Center of the China Geological Survey Bureau. The achievements of this work provide crucial geological evidence for fully implementing the construction of a Beautiful Zhejiang and the rural revitalization strategy, and also serve as a valuable reference for similar initiatives nationwide.

　　Geological and technological innovation leads to new breakthroughs in geological exploration in southern Xinjiang.

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　　The demonstration project for the survey and exploration of iron, lead, and zinc resources in the Western Kunlun Mountains—led and organized under the chief expertise of Teng Jiaxin from the Xi'an Geological Survey Center of the China Geological Survey—has proposed a new understanding of the basin-margin fold-thrust system combined with tectonic fluids and post-metamorphic replacement processes as the ore-forming system for lead and zinc deposits. This has led to the establishment of a “Huohuayun-style” hydrothermal-replacement non-sulfide ore-forming model, shedding light on the patterns of massive lead and zinc accumulation and concentration. The project has also put forward a “Dahongliutan-style” pegmatite-type lithium deposit formation mechanism and innovated a systematic approach for identifying pegmatite-type rare-metal deposits. Furthermore, it has elucidated the Late Carboniferous tectonic-basin evolution in the Western Kunlun Mountains and proposed a “Malikansu-style” manganese-rich ore-forming model. Additionally, the project has developed rapid exploration techniques suitable for high-altitude, deeply dissected regions, paving the way for major breakthroughs in mineral exploration in southern Xinjiang. As a result, a number of large- and extra-large-scale ore deposits have been newly discovered, establishing three major resource bases: Huohuayun for lead and zinc, Dahongliutan for lithium, and Malikansu for manganese-rich ores. Through this work, the “Kezhou Model”—a pioneering approach in which national public-interest geological surveys proactively serve local economic and social development as well as poverty alleviation through industrial development—has been explored and successfully implemented, delivering precise support for industrial development and achieving remarkable results in poverty alleviation efforts in southern Xinjiang.

　　Top Ten Geological Prospecting Achievements

　　(The projects are listed in no particular order.)

　　The Weirong shale gas field in the Sichuan Basin has confirmed deep-layer shale gas reserves on the order of hundreds of billions of cubic meters.

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　　The Southwest Oil & Gas Branch of Sinopec has discovered a large-scale shale gas field with reserves exceeding 100 billion cubic meters in the deep shale gas play of the Sichuan Basin. In response to the challenges posed by deep shale gas exploration—specifically, geological evaluation, drilling and completion, and fracturing operations at depths greater than 3,500 meters—the research team broke free from conventional thinking, innovated theoretical understanding, deepened resource assessments, and intensified technological breakthroughs. The team innovatively proposed a theoretical framework supported by four complementary technologies: First, it was the first to put forward the “three-element” enrichment theory for marine deep shale gas—“high-quality facies zones, favorable evolution, and excellent preservation”; second, it established a comprehensive geological evaluation technique for deep shale gas that integrates multiple parameters, including lithology, electrical properties, and paleontological data; third, it developed a geophysical prediction technology for dual “sweet spots”—both geological and engineering—in deep shale gas reservoirs; fourth, it created optimized control technologies for rapid and efficient drilling as well as horizontal well trajectory design; and fifth, it introduced a fracturing and stimulation technology for deep shale gas that effectively controls near-wellbore effects while enhancing fracture extension and cluster effectiveness over longer distances. The Weirong Gas Field has now reported proven reserves of 124.7 billion cubic meters, establishing a new platform for capacity development. This discovery boasts significant socio-economic benefits and plays a crucial role in promoting green development.

　　New breakthrough achieved in uranium exploration at the Qianjiadian Depression in the Kailu Basin, Inner Mongolia.

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　　A team led by Meng Weigong from the Liaohe Oilfield of China National Petroleum Corporation, with him serving as chief expert, has identified a super-large in-situ leachable sandstone uranium deposit in the Qianjiadian Sag of the Kailu Basin in Inner Mongolia. This significant discovery of the Qianjiadian uranium deposit has broken new ground in China’s integrated uranium exploration efforts outside the nuclear sector, filling a critical gap in the search for in-situ leachable sandstone-type uranium deposits in the oil- and gas-bearing basins of Northeast China. After years of exploration practice and accumulated experience, the expert team from the Liaohe Oilfield, guided by a novel approach—“exploring both oil and uranium simultaneously, turning a single deposit into two”—ultimately achieved the “Five Ones” outcomes at the Qianjiadian uranium deposit: they have developed an innovative ore-forming theory for sandstone-type uranium deposits, pioneered a new exploration model, established a set of unique mining technologies, created a comprehensive uranium resource evaluation system, and delineated an ultra-large-scale uranium deposit. This achievement has played a leading and exemplary role in uranium exploration efforts involving sandstone-type deposits—not only for CNPC but also for the nation as a whole—and has laid a solid resource foundation for the construction of the Tongliao Large-Scale Natural Uranium Base in China.

　　Zhugongtang in Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, Achieves a Major Breakthrough in Prospecting for Lead-Zinc Deposits.

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　　A team led by He Lianglun from the 113th Geological Brigade of the Guizhou Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources has discovered and confirmed a super-large lead-zinc deposit at Zhugongtang in Hezhang County. The project team systematically summarized the ore-forming patterns, shifted their exploration approach, broke free from the constraints of conventional exploration thinking, delineated deep-target exploration areas, and developed a “three-in-one” geological model for mineral exploration prediction. After six years of continuous exploration, the team identified 69 lead-zinc ore bodies and uncovered reserves totaling 2.7582 million tons of lead and zinc—making this Guizhou’s first super-large lead-zinc deposit. The discovery of this deposit indicates that the northwestern Guizhou region holds promising prospects for lead-zinc exploration, pointing to new directions and approaches for geological exploration in this area. Located deep within the nationally designated contiguous poverty-alleviation zone of the Wumeng Mountains, this deposit boasts enormous potential economic value. The development and utilization of its resources will play a crucial role in helping the concentrated, contiguous, and particularly impoverished areas of the Wumeng Mountains overcome poverty.

　　A large Vilashto lithium-tin polymetallic deposit has been discovered in Keshiketeng Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

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　　The No. 4 Geological Exploration Institute of the Henan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources has discovered a super-large bauxite deposit in the deep part of the Yanlong Coalfield. The mining area is located on the southeastern side of the Luoyang Basin, on the northern limb of the Songshan anticline. The ore-forming belt belongs to the Yan (Shi)—Gong (County)—Xing (Yang) Class IV bauxite subzone within the Songshan–Jishan bauxite ore-forming region. The ore bodies are hosted within the Benxi Formation of the Carboniferous System, primarily consisting of bauxite, with coexisting refractory clay, iron alumina, pyrite, and siderite. Additionally, the deposit contains trace amounts of gallium, making it a super-large sedimentary deposit that can be comprehensively utilized. In total, the project has completed 107,533 meters of drilling and 89,377 meters of well logging, delineating 16 bauxite ore bodies and identifying bauxite resources (333)+(334) totaling 249.24 million tons. Most of these resources lie at depths shallower than 500 meters. Resource estimates for the co-occurring minerals also reach the scale of large-scale deposits. According to exploration data, potential bauxite resources within 700 meters of depth still amount to 160 million tons. The project’s findings provide a secure resource guarantee for the development of Henan Province’s aluminum industry and offer solid resource support for the region’s economic and social development.

　　A super-large lead-zinc deposit has been identified in the Guojiagou mining area of Huixian County, Gansu Province.

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　　The team led by Yuan Deyi, chief expert from the Tianshui Mineral Exploration Institute of the Gansu Provincial Nonferrous Metals Geological Exploration Bureau, has discovered and confirmed another super-large lead-zinc deposit in the Xicheng Lead-Zinc Ore Field—a deeply buried, concealed deposit. The deposit is entirely covered by Cenozoic strata at the surface, with virtually no exposed bedrock. The deposit lies at considerable depth, ranging from 300 to 1,100 meters, and its strike length is approximately 4,400 meters. A total of 70 ore bodies have been identified, including 19 main ore bodies. The cumulative proven (and reserved) reserves of lead-zinc ore amount to 65.0232 million tons, with 637,659.51 tons of lead metal and 2,151,191.85 tons of zinc metal. The cumulative proven (and reserved) reserves of associated silver metal total 1,162,190.96 kilograms, while those of associated cadmium metal amount to 11,767.37 tons. The discovery of this deposit provides valuable guidance and experience for the exploration of concealed mineral deposits. Since 2016, the deposit has been developed and put into production by Gansu Jinhui Mining Co., Ltd., achieving significant economic benefits and playing an important role in boosting the local economy, thus possessing substantial economic significance.

　　A super-large silver-lead-zinc deposit has been discovered at Shuangjianzi Mountain in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

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　　The team led by Yang Jianggong, chief expert at the Nonferrous Metals Mineral Geology Survey Center, has discovered a super-large silver-lead-zinc deposit at Shuangjianzishan in Balinzuo Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. According to the assessment conducted by the Mineral Resource Reserve Evaluation Center of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the proven and probable reserves (121b + 122b + 333) of primary and associated minerals within the mining rights area amount to: 158.9787 million tons of ore, including 109.3609 million tons of silver ore containing 15,129.29 tons of silver metal with a silver grade of 138.34 g/t; 37.6829 million tons of lead ore containing 389,119 tons of lead metal with a lead grade of 1.03%; and 103.0376 million tons of zinc ore containing 1,500,462 tons of zinc metal with a zinc grade of 1.46%. A total of 280 industrial ore bodies have been delineated within the mining permit area, among which 39 are large-scale ore bodies classified as super-large. This discovery holds significant importance for the exploration of nonferrous metals in the central-southern segment of the Greater Khingan Range and represents a major breakthrough in China's silver ore exploration. The矿区 boasts enormous proven and probable resource reserves and substantial potential economic value, which can provide stable employment opportunities for the local surplus labor force and stimulate the economic development of other related local industries. As such, this discovery will play a pivotal role in bolstering the local economy and tax revenues.

　　A super-large tantalum-niobium rare-metal polymetallic deposit has been discovered in the Songshugang Mining Area, Hengfeng County, Jiangxi Province.

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　　A team led by Cheng Qunxi, chief expert from the Jiangxi Nonferrous Geological and Mineral Exploration & Development Institute, has discovered a super-large tantalum-niobium polymetallic deposit in the Songshugang mining area of Hengfeng County, Jiangxi Province. The deposit is of the syenite-feldspar–liplithic mica granite type, with enormous orebody dimensions: 1,676 meters east-west and 740 meters north-south, occurring at elevations ranging from 402.74 to -330.76 meters, and reaching a maximum thickness of 493.47 meters in individual exploration sections. Using geostatistical methods to estimate the deposit’s resource reserves, the team has identified total ore reserves of 298,604 thousand tons (including categories 111b, 122b, and 333), containing 42,444 tons of tantalum oxide, 63,591 tons of niobium oxide, 601,834 tons of rubidium oxide (category 333), and 603,813 tons of lithium oxide (category 333). The potential economic value of this deposit exceeds 100 billion yuan. The discovery of this deposit represents a major breakthrough in China’s exploration for hidden rare-metal deposits. The research conducted on this deposit has established a metallogenic series and model for magmatic rock-type polymetallic deposits in this region, enriching and advancing the theory of rare-metal polymetallic mineralization. This work holds significant guiding importance for the exploration and prospecting of rare-metal polymetallic deposits.

　　A super-large graphite deposit has been discovered in Xigou, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province.

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　　A team led by Cheng Fei from the No. 701 Team of the Heilongjiang Provincial Nonferrous Metals Geological Exploration Bureau has discovered a super-large graphite deposit in Xigou, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province. The deposit is of sedimentary-metamorphic origin and occurs as layered, stratiform, and lenticular ore bodies within metamorphic rocks of the Dapan Dao Formation in the Xingdong Group of the Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic Era. The ore type is predominantly graphite gneiss, consisting of coarse-flake crystalline graphite. Project technicians conducted an intensive study of the geoelectric conditions in this area, carefully summarized the mineralization patterns, and rationally planned exploration efforts. As a result, significant breakthroughs have been made in geological prospecting. A total of 62 crystalline graphite ore bodies have been identified throughout the region, with submitted reserves (333) + (334) amounting to 3,355.119 million tons of graphite ore, containing 2,337.61 million tons of minerals at an average grade of 6.97%. Among these reserves, the (333) category accounts for 95.22% of the total resource volume, with an overall stripping ratio of 1.69:1. The graphite resources in Xigou are highly concentrated, shallowly buried, characterized by a low stripping ratio and high recovery rate, making them easy to mine and process. This makes the deposit an easily mineable and beneficiable graphite deposit with enormous potential value—initial estimates place its potential value at over 100 billion yuan.

　　Shizhushan in Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province—Zhangmubiao Bridge in Shanggao County: World’s Largest Wollastonite Deposit Discovered

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　　The team led by Wang Xianguang, chief expert from the Jiangxi Province Geological Exploration Fund Management Center, has discovered in the Shizhushan area of Yushui District, Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province—the Zhangmujiao mining district in Shanggao County—the world’s largest wollastonite deposit. The team has submitted reserves of 69.55 million tons of wollastonite minerals classified as 333+334, including 34.78 million tons classified as 333. The discovery of the Shizhushan-Zhangmujiao wollastonite deposit in Yushui District, Xinyu City, has set a new global record for the scale of wollastonite resources, fundamentally reshaped China’s distribution pattern of wollastonite deposits, and established a new ore-forming model for hidden wollastonite deposits in the Mengshan region: “intrusive rock body + carbonate rock + structural fractures + caprock (carbonaceous mudstone shielding).” This model has been successfully applied to the Shishan wollastonite deposit in Yushui District, Xinyu City, and the Yuankeng wollastonite deposit in Shanggao County, significantly expanding the exploration potential, exploration approaches, and exploration directions for wollastonite deposits. Not only is this deposit exceptionally large in scale, but it also boasts high-grade ore with excellent quality, making it easy to mine and process. It provides a solid resource guarantee for the development of the wollastonite industry cluster in the Mengshan region and for consolidating Xinyu’s position as a “mining-based city.”

　　A super-large aluminum (clay) ore deposit has been discovered in the deep part of the Yanlong Coalfield in Henan Province.

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　　The No. 4 Geological Exploration Institute of the Henan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources has discovered a super-large bauxite deposit in the deep part of the Yanlong Coalfield. The mining area is located on the southeastern side of the Luoyang Basin, on the northern limb of the Songshan anticline. The ore-forming belt belongs to the Yan (Shi)—Gong (County)—Xing (Yang) Class IV bauxite subzone within the Songshan–Jishan bauxite ore-forming region. The ore bodies are hosted within the Benxi Formation of the Carboniferous System, primarily consisting of bauxite, with coexisting refractory clay, iron alumina, pyrite, and siderite. Additionally, the deposit contains trace amounts of gallium, making it a super-large sedimentary deposit that can be comprehensively utilized. In total, the project has completed 107,533 meters of drilling and 89,377 meters of well logging, delineating 16 bauxite ore bodies and identifying bauxite resources (333)+(334) totaling 249.24 million tons. Most of these resources lie at depths shallower than 500 meters. Resource estimates for the co-occurring minerals also reach the scale of large-scale deposits. According to exploration data, potential bauxite resources within 700 meters of depth still amount to 160 million tons. The project’s findings provide a secure resource guarantee for the development of Henan Province’s aluminum industry and offer solid resource support for the region’s economic and social development.