General situation of mineral resources

The study of geology and mineral resources in Tarim area is low and unbalanced, especially in Kunlun Mountain, Karakorum Mountain, Altun Mountain and Qimantage Mountain in the southern margin of Tarim Basin. The regional survey of1∶ 200,000 has not been systematically carried out, and the survey of mineral resources is even lagging behind. However, in recent years, with the rapid development of petroleum and natural gas geological exploration and scientific research, the first and second rounds of metallogenic zoning and comprehensive mineral mapping projects sponsored by Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and implemented by various geological brigades have achieved remarkable results, providing a good foundation for the research of this project.

According to the above data, and referring to the achievements of Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Tarim Petroleum Battle Command, Northwest Petroleum Geology Bureau of Xinxing Petroleum Company and National 305 Project, the mineral resources in Tarim area south of Kanggurtag-Ebinur Lake fault zone are incompletely counted. About 100 minerals have been found in this area. After combined screening, table 1- 1 lists about 60 kinds of minerals, including 5 kinds of energy minerals, 22 kinds of metal minerals and 34 kinds of non-metal minerals. There are 798 ore deposits, 989 ore occurrences and 290 mineralization points, totaling about 2077. In addition, there are more than 2000 geophysical, geochemical, natural heavy sand and remote sensing anomalies.

Table 1- 1 list of mineral resources in Tarim and its surrounding areas

According to the scale of the deposit, there are four super-large deposits (the concept of energy deposit has not been used yet), namely, Tuwu Copper Mine in Hami City, Qiegan Balak Vermiculite Mine in Yuli County, Lop Nur Potash Mine in Ruoqiang County and Sawayalton Gold Mine in Wuqia County. Their prospective resources have an important influence at home and abroad. Large deposits 1 10, including 26 energy deposits, accounting for 23.64% of the total number of large deposits; Metal deposits 12, accounting for10.92%; There are 72 nonmetallic deposits, accounting for 65.44%. Medium-sized deposits 144, including 53 energy deposits, accounting for 36.438+0% of medium-sized deposits; There are 45 metal deposits, accounting for 31.25%; There are 46 nonmetallic deposits, accounting for 3 1.94%. 540 small deposits, including energy deposits 120, accounting for 22.22% of small deposits; Metal deposit 197, accounting for 36.47%; There are 223 nonmetallic deposits, accounting for 4 1.5438+0%. There are 989 places, including energy 130, accounting for13.15%; 450 kinds of metals, accounting for 45.50%; There are 409 kinds of nonmetals, accounting for 4 1.36%. There are 290 mineralization points, including metal points 182, accounting for 62.76% of the total number of mineralization points; There are 108 nonmetals, accounting for 37.24%.

1. 1.2 potential

Tarim and its surrounding areas have great prospecting potential and are an ideal replacement base for mineral resources in China.

1. 1.2. 1 oil and gas

Tarim Basin is the largest onshore oil and gas resource prospect in China, and its surrounding Mesozoic and Cenozoic continental basins also have obvious oil exploration potential. After exploration and evaluation in recent years, the total oil and gas resources in this area are about 255× 108t, accounting for about 1/4 of the total oil and gas resources in China and 76% of the total oil and gas resources in Xinjiang. * * * More than 100 oil and gas fields have been discovered, including about 40 large and medium-sized oil and gas fields.

According to the news media reports at the end of 2000, 3 1 gas storage structures have been discovered and delineated in northern Tarim, and the proven natural gas is 5050× 108 m3. It is estimated that the cumulative proven natural gas in 2005 is 7200× 108 m3, and the cumulative proven natural gas in 20 10/0000m3. In addition, Cretaceous natural gas in southwest Tarim also has a good exploration prospect.

"West-to-East Gas Transmission" is one of the four major projects of western development. 200 1, completed in 2004, will produce huge economic and social benefits.

1. 1.2.2 in-situ leachable sandstone-type uranium deposit

The investigation and development of in-situ leachable sandstone-type uranium resources in Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins in Tarim area began in 1980s and 1990s. XXX and XXX mining areas and several large and medium-sized uranium prospect areas were discovered in Yili, Turpan-Hami and Yanqi basins successively. At the same time, more than 1000 ore occurrences and anomalies were found, and the prospecting situation was very gratifying. At present, ×× uranium deposit in Yili basin has been put into development and trial production. The metallogenic conditions of these deposits are completely comparable to those of large and super-large in-situ leachable sandstone-type uranium deposits in Central Asia. Today, in the era of peaceful use of atomic energy, the demand for uranium resources will increase greatly, and the great prospect of uranium resources in this respect will play a greater role.

1. 1.2.3 evaporite

The metallogenic conditions of evaporite minerals in arid basins since Mesozoic in Tarim and its surrounding areas are unique. According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 160 mineral deposits in China, and the reserves exceed 1000× 108t. The rock salt reserves in Kuqa piedmont basin alone exceed 200× 108t. Evaporite deposits are mainly sodium salt, magnesium salt, mirabilite and gypsum, accompanied by sodium nitrate, celestite and boron. In recent years, with the cooperation of many departments, the potassium salt (brine) mine in Lop Nur has made amazing progress, and KCl 1.29× 108t can be submitted in the area of 790km2 in Luobei Depression. The total KCl resources in Lop Nur can reach 5.3× 108t, and the sodium chloride resources can reach 486× 108t. At present, it has entered the preparatory stage before development.

1. 1.2.4 copper mine

Copper has always been a scarce mineral in China, and the west is the hope to alleviate this contradiction. Although a number of large and medium-sized copper deposits have been found in Sanjiang area, eastern Tibet area, Qilian Mountain area and Altai Mountain area, some of them are particularly difficult to develop (Yulong), and some resources are only about one million tons (Ashele, Kalatongke), which makes it difficult to form a large-scale effect. The discovery of porphyry copper belt in East Tianshan changed or eased this urgent situation. Copper resources are expected to exceed10 million tons, and the reserve of Tuwu copper mine can reach 5 million tons. The low terrain and convenient transportation in this area are conducive to large-scale development and construction.

The Tarim plate and its surrounding areas, as well as the pre-Sinian greenstone belt in Kuruktag, the ancient Asian porphyry copper belt in South Tianshan, the volcanic porphyry copper belt in Kunlun Mountain, the Tethys porphyry copper belt in Karakorum Mountain and the Sabuha sandstone copper belt around the Mesozoic-Cenozoic continental sedimentary basin in Tarim are all promising copper prospecting targets. Therefore, the copper prospecting potential in this area is huge.

1. 1.2.5 minerals related to ultrabasic rocks and alkaline rocks

These minerals include vanadium-titanium magnetite, chromium minerals, rare earth minerals, zirconium rare metal minerals, apatite, diopside, phlogopite, diamond, vermiculite and gem minerals. Their ore-forming conditions in this area are very superior, and their prospecting information is rich and strong, which is one of the best in China (see below for details). At present, although there is no urgently needed mineral base except vermiculite, diopside and zircon in China, the prospecting prospect is very optimistic.

1. 1.2.6 gold deposit

Before 1980s, placer gold was the main gold mine in Xinjiang. After nearly 20 years of investigation, exploration and development, rock gold has risen to a dominant position. Tulasu gold belt (Axi large continental volcanic gold deposit, Ilmand gold deposit, etc. ), Kanggurtag gold belt (Kanggur, Xitan, Matoutan, Yuanbaoshan and other small and medium-sized gold mines), Southwest Tianshan gold belt (super-large Sawayarton Mulongtao gold-antimony mine, Karajiaoguya small and medium-sized antimony gold mine, Chahansala silver-antimony mine, Wulansaier gold mine, Ojama Gucci gold mine, etc. ) and the Bingdaban gold belt have been discovered one after another. It is expected that the Kuruktag gold belt (Yonghongshan greenstone gold belt, Saimashan conglomerate gold belt and Dajingou placer gold belt), Altun gold belt (Dapinggou gold belt and Qinggui gold belt), Karamilan gold belt, Yunwuling gold belt, Zhayileke gold belt, Aoyiqike gold belt, Akshaw gold belt and Muji gold belt may also be discovered.

Other metallic and nonmetallic deposits in the study area have good metallogenic conditions, many occurrences and mineralization points, a large amount of prospecting information and great prospecting potential. Most minerals can not only meet the basic needs of current construction and national economic development in this region, but also have surpluses, especially traditional dominant minerals such as coal.

In a word, Tarim and its surrounding areas have great prospecting potential and are important industrial bases for minerals (oil and natural gas) in some countries. After further exploration, it will become the industrial base of minerals (in-situ leachable sandstone-type uranium, potassium and copper) in some countries. There are also some minerals (such as diamond, chromium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium and titanium) with great prospecting potential. For some traditional dominant minerals and non-urgent minerals (coal, rock salt, gypsum, lead, zinc, iron, etc. ), only need to find out the prospecting prospect, do not need to invest too much exploration work, and the geological prospecting task should be determined according to the operation law of market demand.