＂Three Rare Mineral Resources＂ and Crystalline Graphite Have Become Prospecting Focuses in China

With the global rise of industries of the new-generation information technology, energy conservation and environmental protection, biotechnology, high-end manufacturing, new materials and clean-energy vehicles, traditional metal materials cannot meet the functional requirements. Consequently, ＂three rare mineral resources＂, regarded as the best altemative for current and future new industries, have received much attention among industrial circles and have become a new focus during the present geological prospecting in China.

What Mineral Resources will China Need to Discover by the Mid-21st Century？

In the past 40 years of China＇s reform and opening up, China＇s economy has been developing rapidly, and industrialization and urbanization have begun to take shape. At present, China is heading towards an information society. Mineral resources have played a great supporting role during this process. During the whole of 2017, China consumed 2.344 billion tons of iron ore, 2.4 billion tons of cement and 3.65 billion tons of raw coal （Fig. 1）.

Regional Distribution and Sustainable Development Strategy of Mineral Resources in China

This paper summarizes the distribution and production layout of the major mineral resources in China,including coal,iron ore,copper and bauxite,from a national perspective.It also identifies the incompatibility between the mineral resources distribution and regional economic development.Significant issues with China's mineral resource industry cause challenges for the sustainable development of both the mining industry and the national socio-economy.The sustainability of regional mineral resources and the environmental pollution by mining in the western China were also analyzed.Results show that the distribution of China's mineral resources is misaligned with its regional layout of economic development.China's mineral resources have been over-exploited,and the mineral resources production in the eastern China is unsustainable.The continuously expanding production of mineral resources in the western China has heavily endangered the ecological environment.We propose strategies to boost the sustainable development of mineral resources,including measures to accelerate economic development and enhance the sustainability of domestic mineral resources.We also offer suggestions for scientifically planning the mineral resource prospecting and exploitation and regional economic layout,as well as for proactively undertaking industry transfer in the eastern China and raising the environmental benchmark requirements for the mineral industry in the central and western China.

Development and Utilization of the World＇s and China＇s Bulk Mineral Resources and their Supply and Demand Situation in the Next Twenty Years

Bulk mineral resources of iron ores, copper ores, bauxite, lead ores, zinc ores and potassium salt play a pivotal role on the world＇s and China＇s economic development. This study analyzed and predicted their resources base and potential, development and utilization and their world＇s and China＇s supply and demand situation in the future 20 years. The supply and demand of these six bulk mineral products are generally balanced, with a slight surplus, which will guarantee the stability of the international mineral commodity market supply. The six mineral resources （especially iron ores and copper ores） are abundant and have a great potential, and their development and utilization scale will gradually increase. Till the end of 2014, the reserve- production ratio of iron, copper, bauxite, lead, zinc ores and potassium salt was 95 years, 42 years, 100 years, 17 years, 37 years and 170 years, respectively. Except lead ores, the other five types all have reserve-production ratio exceeding 20 years, indicative of a high resources guarantee degree. If the utilization of recycled metals is counted in, the supply of the world＇s six mineral products will exceed the demand in the future twenty years. In 2015-2035, the supply of iron ores, refined copper, primary aluminum, refined lead, zinc and potassium salt will exceed their demand by 0.4-0.7 billion tons （Gt）, 5.0-6.0 million tons （Mt）, 1.1-8.9 Mt, 1.0-2.0 Mt, 1.2-2.0 Mt and 4.8-5.6 Mt, respectively. It is predicted that there is no problem with the supply side of bulk mineral products such as iron ores, but local or structural shortage may occur because of geopolitics, monopoly control, resources nationalism and trade friction. Affected by China＇s compressed industrialized development model, the demand of iron ores （crude steel）, potassium salt, refined lead, refined copper, bauxite （primary aluminum） and zinc will gradually reach their peak in advance. The demand peak of iron ores （crude steel） will reach around 2015, 2016 for potassium salt, 2020 for refined lead, 2021 for bauxite （primary aluminum）, 2022 for refined copper and 2023 for zinc. China＇s demand for iron ores （crude steel）, bauxite （primary aluminum） and zinc in the future 20 years will decline among the world＇s demand, while that for refined copper, refined lead and potassium salt will slightly increase. The demand for bulk mineral products still remains high. In 2015-2035, China＇s accumulative demand for iron ores （crude steel） will be 20.313 Gt （13.429 Gt）, 0.304 Gt for refined copper, 2.466 Gt （0.616 Gt） of bauxite （primary aluminum）, 0.102 Gt of refined lead, 0.138 Gt of zinc and 0.157 Gt of potassium salt, and they account for the world＇s YOY （YOY） accumulative demand of 35.17%, 51.09%, 48.47%, 46.62%, 43.95% and 21.84%, respectively. This proportion is 49.40%, 102.52%, 87.44%, 105.65%, 93.62% and 106.49% of that in 2014, respectively. From the supply side of China＇s bulk mineral resources, it is forecasted that the accumulative supply of primary （mine） mineral products in 2015-2035 is 4.046 Gt of iron ores, 0.591 Gt of copper, 1.129 Gt of bauxite, 63.661 Mt of （mine） lead, 0.109 Gt of （mine） zinc and 0.128 Gt of potassium salt, which accounts for 8.82%, 13.92%, 26.67%, 47.09%, 33.04% and 15.56% of the world＇s predicted YOY production, respectively. With the rapid increase in the smelting capacity of iron and steel and alumina, the rate of capacity utilization for crude steel, refined copper, alumina, primary aluminum and refined lead in 2014 was 72.13%, 83.63%, 74.45%, 70.76% and 72.22%, respectively. During 2000-2014, the rate of capacity utilization for China＇s crude steel and refined copper showed a generally fluctuating decrease, which leads to an insufficient supply of primary mineral products. It is forecasted that the supply insufficiency of iron ores in 2015-2035 is 17.44 Gt, 0.245 Gt of copper in copper concentrates, 1.337 Gt of bauxite, 38.44 Mt of lead in lead concentrates and 29.19 Mt of zinc in zinc concentrates. China has gradually raised the utilization of recycled metals, which has mitigated the insufficient supply of primary metal products to some extent. It is forecasted that in 2015-2035 the accumulative utilization amount of steel scrap （iron ores） is 3.27 Gt （5.08 Gt）, 70.312 Mt of recycled copper, 0.2 Gt of recycled aluminum, 48 Mt of recycled lead and 7.7 Mt of recycled zinc. The analysis on the supply and demand situation of China＇s bulk mineral resources in 2015-2035 suggests that the supply-demand contradiction for these six types of mineral products will decrease, indicative of a generally declining external dependency. If the use of recycled metal amount is counted in, the external dependency of China＇s iron, copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and potassium salt will be 79%, 65%, 26%, 8%, 16% and 18% in 2014, respectively. It is predicted that this external dependency will decrease to 62%, 64%, 20%, -0.93%, 16% and 14% in 2020, respectively, showing an overall decreasing trend. We propose the following suggestions correspondingly. （1） The demand peak of China＇s crude steel and potassium salt will reach during 2015-2023 in succession. Mining transformation should be planned and deployed in advance to deal with the arrival of this demand peak. （2） The supply-demand contradiction of China＇s bulk mineral resources will mitigate in the future 20 years, and the external dependency will decrease accordingly. It is suggested to adjust the mineral resources management policies according to different minerals and regions, and regulate the exploration and development activities. （3） China should further establish and improve the forced mechanism of resolving the smelting overcapacity of steel, refined copper, primary aluminum, lead and zinc to really achieve the goal of ＂reducing excess production capacity＂. （4） In accordance with the national strategic deployment of ＂One Belt One Road＂, China should encourage the excess capacity of steel, copper, alumina and primary aluminum enterprises to transfer to those countries or areas with abundant resources, high energy matching degree and relatively excellent infrastructure. Based on the national conditions, mining condition and geopolitics of the resources countries, we will gradually build steel, copper, aluminum and lead-zinc smelting bases, and potash processing and production bases, which will promote the excess capacity to transfer to the overseas orderly. （5） It is proposed to strengthen the planning and management of renewable resources recycling and to construct industrial base of renewable metal recycling. （6） China should promote the comprehensive development and utilization of paragenetic and associated mineral species to further improve the comprehensive utilization of bulk mineral resources.

Research and application of mineral resources assessment by weights of evidence model based on SIG

Geological data are usually of the characteristics of multi-source, large amount and multi-scale. The construction of Spatial Information Grid overcomes the shortages of personal computers when dealing with geological data. The authors introduce the definition, architecture and flow of mineral resources assessment by weights of evidence model based on Spatial Information Grid (SIG). Meanwhile, a case study on the prediction of copper mineral occurrence in the Middle-Lower Yangtze metallogenic belt is given. The results show that mineral resources assessement based on SIG is an effective new method which provides a way of sharing and integrating distributed geospatial information and improves the efficiency greatly.

Characteristics of Tungsten,Titanium,Rare-Earths and Antimony Mineral Resources of China

Large areas of old basements of metamorphic volcanic series, and magmatic and sedimentary rocks of different ages existing in China. China is rich in Mesozoic granite rocks which are closely related to nonferrous metals ore deposits, and favourable for the formation of tungsten, titanium, rare earths and antimony ore deposits. The article identifies the major types and locations of these mineral resources from a geological point of view.

Status of China's Mineral Resources in 2013

On 22nd April 2014,with the approach of the 45th World Earth Day,China＇s Ministry of Land and resources issued the status of China＇s mineral resources in 2013.The first task of the prospecting breakthrough strategy action implemented in the last five years has been completed,and China＇s security capacity for mineral resources has been significantly improved.In the future,the enforcement of the economical and intensive utilization of mineral resources will be strengthened,and economic transformation and upgrading will be promoted to ensure sustained and stable development of China＇s economy.

Source Enrichment Control on the Scale of Magmatic-Hydrothermal W-Sn Mineralization:Insights from Triassic and Jurassic Magma Reservoirs in the Continental Crust,Xitian,South China

There are two factors,source composition and magmatic differentiation,potentially controlling W-Sn mineralization.Which one is more important is widely debated and may need to be determined for each individual deposit.The Xitian granite batholith located in South China is a natural laboratory for investigating the above problem.It consists essentially of two separate components,formed in the Triassic at ca.226 Ma and Jurassic at ca.152 Ma,respectively.The Triassic and Jurassic rocks are both composed of porphyritic and fine-grained phases.The latter resulted from highlydifferentiated porphyritic ones but they have similar textural characteristics and mineral assemblages,indicating that they reached a similar degree of crystal fractionation.Although both fine-grained phases are highly differentiated with elevated rare metal contents,economic W–Sn mineralization is rare in the Triassic granitoids and this can be attributed to less fertile source materials than their Jurassic counterparts,with a slightly more enriched isotopic signature and whole-rockεNd(226 Ma)of−10.4 to−9.2(2σ=0.2)compared withεNd(152 Ma)of−9.2 to−8.2(2σ=0.2)for the Jurassic rocks.The initial W-Sn enrichment was derived from the metasedimentary rocks and strongly enhanced by reworking of the continental crust,culminating in the Jurassic.

Mafic and felsic magmatism in the Wadi Kalalat area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt: mineralogy, geochemistry and geodynamic evolution during the Neoproterozoic in the Nubian Shield

In the south Eastern Desert of Egypt,two contrasting types of magmatism(mafic and felsic) are recorded in the Wadi Kalalat area,and form the Gabal El Motaghiarat and Gabal Batuga intrusions,respectively.The two intrusions post-dates ophiolitic and arc associations represented by serpentinite and metagabbro-diorite,respectively.The mafic intrusion has a basal ultramafic member represented by fresh peridotite,which is followed upward by olivine gabbro and anorthositic or leucogabbro.This mafic intrusion pertains to the Alaskan-type mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Arabian-Nubian Shield(ANS)being of tholeiitic nature and emplaced in a typical arc setting.On the other hand,the Gabal Batuga intrusion comprises three varieties of fresh A-type granites of high K-calc alkaline nature,which is peraluminous and garnetbearing in parts.A narrow thermal aureole in the olivine gabbro of the mafic intrusion was developed due to the intrusion of the Batuga granites.This results in the development of a hornfelsic melagabbro variety in which the composition changed from tholeiitic to a calc-alkaline composition due to the addition of S_(i)O_(2),Al_(2)O_(3),alkalis,lithosphile elements(LILEs) such as Rb(70 ppm) and Y(28 ppm) from the felsic intrusion.Outside the thermal aureole,Rb amounts 2-8 ppm and Y lies in the range <2-6ppm.It is believed that the Gabal Batuga felsic intrusion started to emplace during the waning stage of an arc system,with transition from the pre-collisional(i.e.,arc setting) to post-collisional and within plate settings.Magma from which the Gabal Batuga granites were fractionated is high-K calc-alkaline giving rise to a typical post-collisional A-type granite(A_(2)-subtype) indicating an origin from an underplating crustal source.Accordingly,it is stressed here that the younger granites in the ANS are not exclusively post-collisional and within-plate but most likely they started to develop before closure of the arc system.The possible source(s) of mafic magmas that resulted in the formation of the two intrusions are discussed.Mineralogical and geochemical data of the post-intrusion dykes(mafic and felsic) suggest typical active continental rift/within-plate settings.

Advances in depressants for flotation separation of Cu–Fe sulfide minerals at low alkalinity:A critical review

The flotation separation of Cu–Fe sulfide minerals at low alkalinity can be achieved using selective depressants.In the flotation system of Cu–Fe sulfide minerals,depressants usually preferentially interact with the pyrite surface to render the mineral surface hydrophilic and hinder the adsorption of the collector.This review summarizes the advances in depressants for the flotation separation of Cu–Fe sulfide minerals at low alkalinity.These advances include use of inorganic depressants (oxidants and sulfur–oxygen compounds),natural polysaccharides (starch,dextrin,konjac glucomannan,and galactomannan),modified polymers (carboxymethyl cellulose,polyacrylamide,lignosulfonate,and tricarboxylate sodium starch),organic acids (polyglutamic acid,sodium humate,tannic acid,pyrogallic acid,salicylic acid,and lactic acid),sodium dimethyl dithiocarbamate,and diethylenetriamine.The potential application of specific inorganic and organic depressants in the flotation separation of Cu–Fe sulfide minerals at low alkalinity is reviewed.The advances in the use of organic depressants with respect to the flotation separation of Cu–Fe sulfide minerals are comprehensively detailed.Additionally,the depression performances and mechanisms of different types of organic depressants on mineral surfaces are summarized.Finally,several perspectives on depressants vis-à-vis flotation separation of Cu–Fe sulfide minerals at low alkalinity are proposed.

Three-dimensional Modeling of Ore-forming Elements and Mineralization Prognosis for the Yechangping Mo Deposit,Henan Province,China

Three-dimensional geochemical modeling of ore-forming elements is crucial for predicting deep mineralization.This approach provides key information for the quantitative prediction of deep mineral localization,three-dimensional fine interpolation,analysis of spatial distribution patterns,and extraction of quantitative mineral-seeking markers.The Yechangping molybdenum(Mo)deposit is a significant and extensive porphyry-skarn deposit in the East Qinling-Dabie Mo polymetallic metallogenic belt at the southern margin of the North China Block.Abundant borehole data on oreforming elements underpin deep geochemical predictions.The methodology includes the following steps:(1)Threedimensional geological modeling of the deposit was established.(2)Correlation,cluster,and factor analyses post delineation of mineralization stages and determination of mineral generation sequence to identify(Cu,Pb,Zn,Ag)and(Mo,W,mfe)assemblages.(3)A three-dimensional geochemical block model was constructed for Mo,W,mfe,Cu,Zn,Pb,and Ag using the ordinary kriging method,and the variational function was developed.(4)Spatial distribution and enrichment characteristics analysis of ore-forming elements are performed to extract geological information,employing the variogram and w(Cu+Pb+Zn+Ag)/w(Mo+W)as predictive indicators.(5)Identifying the western,northwestern,and southwestern areas of the mine with limited mineralization potential,contrasted by the northeastern and southeastern areas favorable for mineral exploration.

Magmatic-hydrothermal Evolution and Mineralization Mechanisms of the Wangjiazhuang Cu(-Mo)Deposit in the Zouping Volcanic Basin,Shandong Province,China:Constraints from Fluid Inclusions

The Wangjiazhuang Cu(-Mo)deposit,located within the Zouping volcanic basin in western Shandong Province,China,is unique in this area for having an economic value.In order to expound the metallogenetic characteristics of this porphyry-like hydrothermal deposit,a detailed fluid inclusion study has been conducted,employing the techniques of representative sampling,fluid inclusion petrography,microthermometry,Raman spectroscopy,LA-ICP-MS analysis of single fluid inclusions,as well as cathode fluorescence spectrometer analysis of host mineral quartz.The deposit contains mainly two types of orebodies,i.e.veinlet-dissemination-stockwork orebodies in the K-Si alteration zone and pegmatiticquartz sulfide veins above them.In addition,minor breccia ore occurs locally.Four types of fluid inclusions in the deposit and altered quartz monzonite are identified:L-type one-or two-phase aqueous inclusions,V-type vapor-rich inclusions with V/L ratios greater than 50%-90%,D-type multiphase fluid inclusions containing daughter minerals or solids and S-type silicate-bearing fluid inclusions containing mainly muscovite and biotite.Ore petrography and fluid inclusion study has revealed a three-stage mineralization process,driven by magmatic-hydrothermal fluid activity,as follows.Initially,a hydrothermal fluid,separated from the parent magma,infiltrated into the quartz monzonite,resulting in its extensive K-Si alteration,as indicated by silicate-bearing fluid inclusions trapped in altered quartz monzonite.This is followed by the early mineralization,the formation of quartz veinlets and dissemination-stockwork ores.During the main mineralization stage,due to the participation and mixing of meteoric groundwater with magmatic-sourced hydrothermal fluid,the cooling and phase separation caused deposition of metals from the hydrothermal fluids.As a result,the pegmatitic-quartz sulfide-vein ores formed.In the late mineralization stage,decreasing fluid salinity led to the formation of L-type aqueous inclusions and chalcopyrite-sulfosalt ore.Coexistence of V-type and D-type inclusions and their similar homogenization temperatures with different homogenization modes suggest that phase separation or boiling of the ore-forming fluids took place during the early and the main mineralization stages.The formation P-T conditions of S-type inclusions and the early and the main mineralization stages were estimated as ca.156-182 MPa and 450-650℃,350-450℃,18-35 MPa and 280-380℃,8-15 MPa,respectively,based on the microthermometric data of the fluid inclusions formed at the individual stages.

Texture and Geochemistry of Multi-stage Hydrothermal Scheelite in the Mamupu Cu-Au-Mo(-W)Deposit,Eastern Tibet:Implications for Tungsten Mineralization in the Yulong Belt

Multistage tungsten mineralization was recently discovered in the Mamupu copper-polymetallic deposit in the southern Yulong porphyry copper belt(YPCB),Tibet.This study reports the results of cathodoluminescence,trace element and Sr isotope analyses of Mamupu scheelite samples,undertaken in order to better constrain the mechanism of W mineralization and the sources of the ore-forming fluids.Three different types of scheelite are identified in the Mamupu deposit:scheelite A(Sch A)mainly occurs in breccias during the prograde stage,scheelite B(Sch B)forms in the chlorite-epidote alteration zone in the retrograde stage,while scheelite C(Sch C)occurs in distal quartz sulfide veins.The extremely high Mo content and negative Eu anomaly in Sch A represent high oxygen fugacity in the prograde stage.Compared with ore-related porphyries,Sch A has a similar REE pattern,but with higher ΣREE,more depleted HREE and slightly lower(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)i ratios.These features suggest that Sch A is genetically related to ore-related porphyries,but extensive interaction with carbonate surrounding rocks affects the final REE and Sr isotopic composition.Sch B shows dark(Sch B-I)and light(Sch B-II)domains under CL imaging.From Sch B-I to Sch B-II,LREEs are gradually depleted,with MREEs being gradually enriched.Sch C has the highest LREE/HREE ratio,which indicates that it inherited the geochemical characteristics of fluids after the precipitation of HREE-rich minerals,such as diopside and garnet,in the early prograde stage.The Mo content in Sch B and Sch C gradually decreased,indicating that the oxygen fugacity of the fluids changed from oxidative in the early stages to reductive in the later,the turbulent Eu anomaly in Sch B and Sch C indicating that the Eu anomaly in the Mamupu scheelite is not solely controlled by oxygen fugacity.The extensive interaction of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids and carbonate provides the necessary Ca^(2+)for the precipitation of scheelite in the Mamupu deposit.

Mineral Geochemistry of Apatite in the Jiama PorphyrySkarn Deposit,Tibet and its Geological Significance

The Jiama deposit,a significant porphyry-skarn-type copper polymetallic deposit located within the Gangdese metallogenic belt in Tibet,China,exemplifies a typical porphyry metallogenic system.However,the mineral chemistry of its accessory minerals remains under-examined,posing challenges for resource assessment and ore prospecting.Utilizing electron microprobe analysis and LA-ICP-MS analysis,this study investigated the geochemical characteristics of apatite in ore-bearing granite and monzogranite porphyries,as well as granodiorite,quartz diorite,and dark diorite porphyries in the deposit.It also delved into the diagenetic and metallogenic information from these geochemical signatures.Key findings include:(1)The SiO_(2) content,rare earth element(REE)contents,and REE partition coefficients of apatite indicate that the dark diorite porphyry possibly does not share a cogenetic magma source with the other four types of porphyries;(2)the volatile F and Cl contents in apatite,along with their ratio,indicate the Jiama deposit,formed in a collisional setting,demonstrates lower Cl/F ratios in apatite than the same type of deposits formed in a subduction environment;(3)compared to non-ore-bearing rock bodies in other deposits formed in a collisional setting,apatite in the Jiama deposit exhibits lower Ce and Ga contents.This might indicate that rock bodies in the Jiama deposit have higher oxygen fugacity.Nevertheless,the marginal variation in oxygen fugacity between ore-bearing and non-ore-bearing rock bodies within the deposit suggests oxygen fugacity may not serve as the decisive factor in the ore-hosting potential of rock bodies in the Jiama deposit.

Mineral Chemistry,Trace Elements,Isotopic Analysis and Zircon U-Pb Dating in the Hesar Pluton,Northern UDMA,Iran:Implications for Pre-Collisional Magma Mixing

The Hesar pluton in the northern Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc hosts numerous mafic-microgranular enclaves(MMEs).Whole rock geochemistry,mineral chemistry,zircon U-Pb and Sr-Nd isotopes were measured.It is suggested that the rocks are metaluminous(A/CNK=1.32-1.45),subduction-related I-type calc-alkaline gabbro to diorite with similar mineral assemblages and geochemical signatures.The host rocks yielded an U-Pb crystallization age of 37.3±0.4 Ma for gabbro-diorite.MMEs have relatively low SiO_(2) contents(52.9-56.6 wt%)and high Mg^(#)(49.8-58.7),probably reflecting a mantle-derived origin.Chondrite-and mantle-normalized trace element patterns are characterized by LREE and LILE enrichment,HREE and HFSE depletion with slight negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=0.86-1.03).The host rocks yield(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i) ratios of 0.70492-0.70510,positive ε_(Nd)(t)values of+1.55-+2.06 and T_(DM2)of 707-736 Ma,which is consistent with the associated mafic microgranular enclaves((^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i)=0.705014,ε_(Nd)(t)=+1.75,T_(DM2)=729 Ma).All data suggest magma-mixing for enclave and host rock formation,showing a complete equilibration between mixed-mafic and felsic magmas,followed by rapid diffusion.The T_(DM1)(Nd)and T_(DM2)(Nd)model ages and U-Pb dating indicate that the host pluton was produced by partial melting of the lower continental crust and subsequent mixing with injected lithospheric mantlederived magmas in a pre-collisional setting of Arabian-Eurasian plates.Clinopyroxene composition indicates a crystallization temperature of~1000℃ and a depth of~9 km.

Petrographic, Geochemical and Metallogenical Context of the Geological Formations of the Goumere Region (North-East of Cote D’Ivoire): Implication to the Knowledge of Gold Mineralization

The Gouméré region is located in the North-East of Côte d’Ivoire and is located in the South-West of the Bui furrow. In order to highlight the geology of the area studied, 14 samples were taken for studies using petrographic, geochemical and metallogenic methods. The study of macroscopic and microscopic petrography made it possible to highlight two major lithological units: 1) a volcano-plutonic unit, formed of gabbros, basalt, volcaniclastics and rhyodacite;2) a sedimentary unit (microconglomerate). From a geochemical point of view, the results obtained indicate that the plutonites are gabbro and gabbro diorite while the volcanics have compositions of basaltic andesites, rhyolite and dacites. The sediments have a litharenitic to sublitharenitic character. The metallogenic study made it possible to highlight hydrothermal alterations and metalliferous paragenesis on the formations studied. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by the presence of carbonation, silicification, sericitization, sulfidation and to a lesser degree chloritization. Metalliferous paragenesis consists of pyrite, chalcopyrite, hematite and magnetite.

The Reconnaissance of Mineral Resources through ASTER Data-Based Image Processing, Interpreting and Ground Inspection in the Jiafushaersu Area, West Junggar, China

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer （ASTER） data covering the Jiafushaersu area in Xinjiang were used for mapping lithology and hydrothermal alteration. The study area situates at a potential mineralization zone in relation to small hypabyssai granodiorite or quartz monzonite intrusions along the margin of granitoid batholiths of Darbut foot wall. The false colour composition of bands 521 and the first three principal component analyses （PCA1, PCA2, PCA3） in RGB identify the lithological units and discriminate the small intrusions very well from the adjacent granitoid batholiths. PCA and spectral angle mapper （SAM） algorithm were employed to discriminate alteration minerals. The results indicate that the hydroxyl-bearing or ferric and less commonly carbonate types show good correlation with the quartz monzonite porphyry and aplite. Field verification led to finding of the Jiafushaersu molybdenum mineralization. The lithological and geochemical features imply that the molybdenum mineralization is close to the porphyry type. This study further verified that the foot wall of the Darbut suture could have served as a more important metallogenic district for the porphyry copper and molybdenum deposits. It is concluded that the ASTER data-based methods can be used as a powerful tool for small intrusion-type mineral resources targeting.

Lithium extraction from hard rock lithium ores(spodumene,lepidolite,zinnwaldite,petalite):Technology,resources,environment and cost

Lithium production in China mainly depends on hard rock lithium ores,which has a defect in resources,environment,and economy compared with extracting lithium from brine.This paper focuses on the research progress of extracting lithium from spodumene,lepidolite,petalite,and zinnwaldite by acid,alkali,salt roasting,and chlorination methods,and analyzes the resource intensity,environmental impact,and production cost of industrial lithium extraction from spodumene and lepidolite.It is found that the sulfuric acid method has a high lithium recovery rate,but with a complicated process and high energy consumption;alkali and chlorination methods can directly react with lithium ores,reducing energy consumption,but need to optimize reaction conditions and safety of equipment and operation;the salt roasting method has large material flux and high energy consumption,so require adjustment of sulfate ratio to increase the lithium yield and reduce production cost.Compared with extracting lithium from brine,extracting lithium from ores,calcination,roasting,purity,and other processes consume more resources and energy;and its environmental impact mainly comes from the pollutants discharged by fossil energy,9.3-60.4 times that of lithium extracted from brine.The processing cost of lithium extraction from lepidolite by sulfate roasting method is higher than that from spodumene by sulfuric acid due to the consumption of high-value sulfate.However,the production costs of both are mainly affected by the price of lithium ores,which is less competitive than that of extracting lithium from brine.Thus,the process of extracting lithium from ores should develop appropriate technology,shorten the process flow,save resources and energy,and increase the recovery rate of related elements to reduce environmental impact and improve the added value of by-products and the economy of the process.

Classification and mineralization of global lithium deposits and lithium extraction technologies for exogenetic lithium deposits

A reasonable classification of deposits holds great significance for identifying prospecting targets and deploying exploration. The world ’s keen demand for lithium resources has expedited the discovery of numerous novel lithium resources. Given the presence of varied classification criteria for lithium resources presently, this study further ascertained and classified the lithium resources according to their occurrence modes, obtaining 10 types and 5 subtypes of lithium deposits(resources) based on endogenetic and exogenetic factors. As indicated by surveys of Cenozoic exogenetic lithium deposits in China and abroad,the formation and distribution of the deposits are primarily determined by plate collision zones, their primary material sources are linked to the anatectic magmas in the deep oceanic crust, and they were formed primarily during the Miocene and Late Paleogene. The researchers ascertained that these deposits,especially those of the salt lake, geothermal, and volcanic deposit types, are formed by unique slightly acidic magmas, tend to migrate and accumulate toward low-lying areas, and display supernormal enrichment. However, the material sources of lithium deposits(resources) of the Neopaleozoic clay subtype and the deep brine type are yet to be further identified. Given the various types and complex origins of lithium deposits(resources), which were formed due to the interactions of multiple spheres, it is recommended that the mineralization of exogenetic lithium deposits(resources) be investigated by integrating tectono-geochemistry, paleoatmospheric circulation, and salinology. So far, industrialized lithium extraction is primarily achieved in lithium deposits of the salt lake, clay, and hard rock types. The lithium extraction employs different processes, with lithium extraction from salt lake-type lithium deposits proving the most energy-saving and cost-effective.