—— Ye Tianzhu, Deputy Director of the Expert Committee for the Mineral Exploration Breakthrough Strategic Initiative and Head of the Technical Expert Group at the Ministry of Natural Resources and国土资源部.

Is there geological prospecting? “ Trace ” Can it be followed? The answer is yes.

At 5 Moon 28 Held in Lujiang, Hefei, Anhui Province on the day 2016 At the China Prospecting Experts Annual Conference, Ye Tianzhu, former Director of the China Geological Survey, delivered a special lecture on how to conduct mineral exploration prediction. His lecture covered four key aspects: an overview of mineral exploration prediction, the theoretical and methodological framework of ore-forming geological bodies, the fundamental theories and exploration indicators of ore-forming processes, and geological models for mineral exploration targeting major deposit types.

Actually, before this, by him and others... 13 Famous author, time-consuming 8 Year, Collection 13 Mineral deposit type 129 A monumental work completed on a typical ore deposit. —— “The Theory and Methods for Mineral Exploration Prediction in Prospecting Areas” (General Introduction) has been published. This work, hailed by industry insiders as the definitive compilation of theories and methods for mineral exploration prediction in prospecting areas, has received high praise from numerous academicians and experts, including Chen Yuchuan, Tang Zhongli, Pei Rongfu, Zhai Yusheng, and Zhai Mingguo.

They believe this will be a practical guide for mineral exploration in the prospecting area. “ Reference book ” It has enriched China’s theory of mineral exploration and prediction, improved the success rate of predictions, and made mineral resource forecasting more scientifically sound. (For details, please refer to China Mining News.) 2015 Year 12 Moon 22 The article “A Reference Book for Mineral Exploration Prediction in Prospecting Areas,” published daily.

What does mineral exploration prediction rely on? “ Trace ” But what exactly are the deterministic indicators for mineral exploration prediction? What is the background behind the development of the mineral exploration prediction system? In... 2016 During the China Prospecting Experts Annual Conference, a reporter interviewed Researcher Ye Tianzhu, Deputy Director of the Expert Committee for the Mineral Exploration Breakthrough Strategic Initiative and Head of the Technical Expert Group under the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Reporter: In the last century, China had already begun to establish a distinctive system of exploration theories and methodologies, and the achievements at that time were truly remarkable. You mentioned... “ The discipline of mineral exploration has gradually evolved into ore-prospecting prediction. ” Under what kind of context was this concept established?

Ye Tianzhu: As is well known, China has experienced three major booms in geological exploration work, with two of them occurring in the last century.

The first time was in the last century. 50 During that era, when the new China had just been established and was striving to rebuild from ruins, the country experienced its first boom in national economic development, thus giving rise to the first peak period in the development of China’s geological exploration work.

The second period began after the Cultural Revolution. Following a decade of turmoil, under the guidance of the Party Central Committee’s policy of prioritizing economic development, all sectors—from recovery to growth—experienced a second peak in China’s geological exploration efforts. At that time, the slogan centered on mineral exploration provided the guiding principle for the entire geological exploration endeavor. As mineral exploration activities advanced, the discipline of mineral exploration itself underwent rapid development, gradually moving from initially drawing upon the theoretical and methodological systems of the former Soviet Union toward the establishment of its own uniquely Chinese theoretical and methodological framework.

After the reform and opening-up, we have absorbed a great deal of content from Western mineral exploration science. The mineral exploration discipline that our country has developed independently has further matured in terms of fundamental theories and methodological systems. Over nearly... 50 Over the years, a relatively complete system of disciplinary theory and practical work has been established.

However, as easily accessible mineral resources near the Earth’s surface become increasingly scarce, the difficulty of mineral exploration continues to rise. Especially since the beginning of this century, with China’s rapid economic growth and ever-increasing demand for underground resources, the geological exploration industry has encountered new challenges. First, the mineral resources discovered in the 1950s and 1960s have, after decades of development, largely reached the point where the reserves already identified in most mines are nearing exhaustion, necessitating the search for alternative resources. Second, among the areas and projects across the country that underwent large-scale geological exploration in the last century, only a small fraction actually yielded large-scale ore deposits at the time. 5% Generally speaking, most of them have only discovered sporadic ore bodies that hold little industrial significance.

Both of these situations imply that the originally highly mature exploration theoretical methodology system has, in many cases, become inadequate.

Since 2004 Since the year, we have undertaken the national... “ Exploration for Substitute Resources in Crisis Mines ” Specialized task: Organize and carry out work to identify alternative mineral resources in the deep and peripheral areas of nationally depleted mines. From the very outset of this initiative, we have been conducting a nationwide assessment... 2200 Multiple large and medium-sized mines have conducted resource potential surveys. After evaluation, it is determined that among them, there are... 580 Multiple mines may still hold substantial resources in their deep and peripheral areas. Therefore, we have begun exploring the issue of deep exploration targeting the deeper parts of mines—areas that, after working through the shallower sections, have revealed only sporadic mineralization of limited industrial significance—through... 2004 Year ~2014 After ten years of practical exploration, summarization, and verification, a new set of theoretical and methodological systems for mineral exploration prediction has been established.

Reporter: What was the process involved in developing this new methodological framework?

Ye Tianzhu: Approved 2004 Year ~2006 Through our practical experience in mineral exploration and prospecting at crisis mines over the past three years, we have found that many ore deposits exhibit significant changes from their shallow to deeper zones. In some deposits, the resources at greater depths far exceed those discovered in the shallower zones; in others, enormous reserves have been identified along the margins. These new discoveries have challenged many of the previously established patterns and regularities summarized by ore deposit specialists, and in some mining areas, they have even overturned certain ore-forming theories developed in the last century.

Faced with these new discoveries, we have begun organizing in-depth research efforts and are starting to explore this new system of deep mineral exploration methods.

Based on the preliminary summary, we have... 2006 By the beginning of the year, a framework of understanding has been established regarding new theories and methods for prospecting and mineral exploration in exploration areas, and this framework is being used to provide guidance. 2006 Mineral exploration practices conducted after the year. As... 230 In the deep exploration practice at this mine, we’ve been summarizing and verifying as we go along—until... 2009 This year, a brand-new theoretical methodology system has been preliminarily established.

However, at the time, we believed that further refined research was needed to establish this new discipline of mineral exploration prediction. Since then... 2009 Year to 2012 This year, we organized leading domestic universities and research institutions. 20 Several renowned ore deposit specialists focus on common... 13 Types of ore deposits, 129 We conducted more in-depth and detailed specialized studies on several typical ore deposits. We also organized extensive surveys of newly discovered ore deposits, covering virtually all large- and medium-sized deposits that have been identified since the beginning of this century.

It is also worth mentioning that, with the implementation of the old mine exploration project by the China Geological Survey, we have once again... 168 The findings from this field exploration practice at an old mine have served to further supplement and refine the already established theoretical methodology system. This round of fieldwork has provided even stronger validation for the scientific rigor and effectiveness of the new mineral exploration prediction theories and methodologies.

During this period, we have organized again. 80 Multiple training sessions will be held to facilitate large-scale exchanges and promotion, and the system will undergo further nationwide testing and refinement until it is fully optimized and perfected.

It can be said that the establishment of the theory and methodology system for mineral exploration prediction in prospecting areas is the product of the practical experience accumulated by a broad spectrum of geologists and mining enterprises, as well as the culmination of the research achievements of numerous ore deposit specialists and researchers—a collective creation. The discipline of mineral exploration prediction is one that requires empirical validation; its conceptual approaches, macroscopic observations, microscopic studies, and working methods all must conform to fundamental theoretical principles and be substantiated by practical verification.

Reporter: It should be said that the creation and summarization of this theoretical framework are based on a thorough study of previous research, drawing on the latest findings from both domestic and international related fields as well as the most recent exploration discoveries made within China. Could you please tell us in what specific aspects this framework stands out?

Ye Tianzhu: The key features of this system are primarily reflected in... 5 In this regard, first, based on simulation experimental data from foreign rocks and minerals, as well as fundamental theories of ore-forming processes and the principle of logical consistency with field geological observations, we have summarized and systematized the theoretical foundations for mineral exploration prediction, thereby addressing the scientific basis of mineral exploration forecasting. We have focused on mechanisms of ore formation, element migration, and ore-forming geochemistry, among other aspects. 10 Regarding major theoretical issues, we have summarized a wealth of geological evidence from China’s numerous ore deposits and put forward theoretical insights into aspects such as the mechanisms of ore formation, the application of ion potential theory, the mechanisms of mineral precipitation, and the theoretical basis for the zoning of ore-forming elements.

Second, based on our study of the relationship between geological processes and ore-forming processes, we have proposed the concept of “ore-forming geological bodies,” thereby resolving the issue of the relationship between unknown ore bodies and known geological bodies in ore-prospecting prediction theory and laying a solid foundation for ore-prospecting prediction work. This study has introduced a conceptual framework that integrates temporal, spatial, material, and energy factors. We have designated the physical carriers of geological processes that provide energy for ore formation as “ore-forming geological bodies.” Consequently, the theoretical and methodological system for ore-prospecting prediction in exploration areas can also be referred to as... “ Theoretical and Methodological System for Mineral Exploration Prediction and Ore-Forming Geological Bodies ”。

Third, we integrated ore-forming structures with ore-forming processes to investigate the spatial distribution of ore-forming materials. This approach has provided a viable pathway for predicting the spatial location of ore bodies in mineral exploration. In this study, we refer to the spatial locations where ore-forming materials are deposited as “ore-forming structural surfaces,” thereby breaking through the traditional concepts, connotations, and research methodologies associated with both conventional ore-field structures and ore-forming structures. By combining the driving forces behind the accumulation of ore-forming materials with the mechanisms of their deposition, we have developed a new classification and characterization of ore-forming structures from the perspective of ore-forming processes, and we have also summarized novel research methodologies.

Fourth, by examining the logical consistency among applied rock and mineral simulation experimental data, fundamental theories of ore-forming processes, and big data on geological facts related to ore deposits, we have identified definitive indicators for ore-prospecting prediction from among a large number of ore-forming markers. This approach addresses the issue of direct indicators for predicting deep-seated ore bodies and significantly enhances the accuracy of our predictions. We have systematically summarized macroscopic indicators such as ore-forming mineralization styles, structural features, and alteration zones, as well as characteristic indicators including mineral compositions, trace elements, and isotopic signatures. Moreover, we have highlighted the theoretical foundations underlying the formation of these indicators. Although there are numerous potential indicators for ore exploration, we have specifically focused on identifying those that are theoretically sound, practically achievable in laboratory settings, and readily verifiable through extensive field geological observations.

Fifth, we have summarized and categorized the common ones in China. 22