Study on Non-traditional Mineral Resources

This paper puts forward and emphasizes "non-traditional mineral resources" as an independent field of mineral resources, systematically expounds the basic theories and methods of non-traditional mineral resources research, including non-traditional mineral resources, non-traditional mineral exploration theories and methods, non-traditional mining industry and non-traditional mining economy, and establishes a theoretical framework system of non-traditional mineral resources research. This course systematically expounds the basic concepts, research objectives and tasks, scientific problems and research significance of non-traditional mineral resources; Discuss the classification principles and schemes of non-traditional mineral resources; This paper discusses the dialectical view of the earth's rock mineral resources, the earth's material flow and the theory of non-waste mining. This paper puts forward a new theory of "triple" mineral prediction and evaluation, and makes an example exploration in mineral system exploration and resource re-evaluation.

1 Basic concepts and research fields of non-traditional mineral resources

Non-traditional mineral resources refer to mineral resources that are difficult to be discovered and industrialized due to current economic, technological and environmental factors, and potential mineral resources that have not been regarded as minerals and their uses have not been discovered. Its research fields include:

(1) Non-traditional minerals (including new types, new depths, new fields, new processes and new uses);

(2) Non-traditional mineral exploration theories and methods (including "ternary" metallogenic prediction theory, nonlinear theory and methods, etc.). );

(3) Non-traditional mining (including non-waste, environmental protection, high-tech, deep processing, comprehensive service mining, etc.). );

(4) Non-traditional mining economics (including comparative economics of two resources, mining and safety economics, mining and ecological economics, mining real estate economics, etc.). ).

The above four aspects constitute a complete system of non-traditional mineral resources, which are interrelated and complement each other.

2 the urgency and importance of non-traditional mineral resources research

Mineral resources are extremely precious natural wealth and the material basis for human survival and development. At present, 95% of China's energy and 80% of its industrial raw materials come from mineral resources. In short, the whole history of human development, to some extent, is the history of human development and utilization of natural rock and mineral materials. Since primitive humans made stone knives, axes and swords from hard rocks, and later, they have continuously discovered and utilized various metallic and nonmetallic minerals. Until today, people can use more than 300 kinds of natural minerals and dozens of rocks to make their daily necessities. It can be said that people can't use minerals for a day. Because of this, historians use the history of natural rocks and mineral materials as a symbol to divide human progress and times, such as the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Atomic Energy Age and so on. Due to the great intensity and breadth of the utilization of nonmetallic minerals by human beings, some people even put forward the concept of "Neolithic Age" to express the characteristics of today's era.

The importance of mineral resources development needs no elaboration, but the existing problems may not be widely known. No matter from the world or from China itself, the main problems are as follows:

(1) The growth rate of mineral reserves is lower than that of mineral consumption, and the consumption of mineral products exceeds the output of mineral products;

(2) The speed of transforming mineral resources into mineral reserves is not fast;

(three) the existing production mine reserve resources are insufficient, and the production capacity has disappeared seriously;

(4) Most of China's minerals, especially the pillar minerals with large demand, have a low level of security and the situation is grim;

(5) Unreasonable resource development, insufficient utilization and serious environmental pollution caused by technology, management and capital.

3 Research status of non-traditional mineral resources at home and abroad

1982, American Association of Economic Geologists held an academic seminar on "Unconventional Deposits". The research object is the mineral deposits that cannot be used by human beings at present, but may be important mineral sources in the future. 1987, the us geological survey held a seminar on unconventional deposit exploration in Oregon. At the 28th International Geological Congress from 65438 to 0989, R.I. Grouch of the Geological Survey of Denver, USA, published a paper "Unconformity in Early Mesoproterozoic: Sources of Non-traditional Platinum Group Elements and Precious Metals". The same author 199 1 published a paper entitled "Prospects of Non-traditional Platinum Group Elements in Black Shale: Examples of Yukon in South China of China and Canada and Its Enlightenment to American Resources" in the form of bulletin of the US Geological Survey. 1992 Denver geological survey: "non-traditional resources: is it our future?" Show concern for future resources.

In Russia, Australia, Canada, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic and other countries, the research results of non-traditional mineral resources have also been reported. For example, "Non-traditional metal deposits in volcanic arc" (1998) and "Non-traditional nonmetallic mineral raw materials related to environmental engineering and agriculture" (Gizwalt. M, Czech Atlas of Resource Geology, 1993) was listed by Geological Survey of Canada.

In recent years, geologists at home and abroad have paid more and more attention to the discovery and development of non-traditional mineral resources. The U.S. Bureau of Mines (now incorporated into the Department of Energy) has established a considerable research institute in Albany, Oregon, specializing in the study of deposits and ore types that have no economic value and cannot be mined or processed, so that once the traditional mineral resources are exhausted, new types of resources may be replaced immediately. The Institute of Geological Exploration of Nonferrous Metals and Precious Metals under the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, whose research fields include the research of non-traditional resources such as diamonds, precious metals and nonferrous metals.

On the unconventional new theory, a.h. Kaya (1973), a scholar of the former Soviet Union, thinks that "the most important deposit occurs in the section with the largest combination of abnormal geological structure and properties in the crust". The former Soviet scholar д A. Galilev (1982) also thinks; Compared with neighboring areas, most important industrial deposits have special and abnormal geological characteristics. "The study of non-traditional deposit types needs innovative interpretation of data and principles, so as to form a new metallogenic theory and predict the geological environment types of new possible deposits (American Resource Survey subproject, 1998)".

In terms of new types of mineral resources, the "frontier field" of the American mineral resources survey plan clearly points out: "Develop new and non-traditional deposit formation theories to determine new, especially non-traditional deposit prospects. ..... Identify new types of deposits, especially non-traditional types, by developing and testing new theories of deposit formation and occurrence, and identify new prospects of deposits by studying and testing new mining areas (regions) of deposit theory. ". "Geological and geochemical studies show that many other types of deposits have not been identified so far" (1998). In recent years, unconventional large-scale gold and platinum deposits have been discovered in the gold-platinum-sulfide-telluride-talc magnesite schist formation (dry valley deposit) and the gold-platinum-syenite-sulfide pyrite fine-grained rock formation (Luo Jing deposit). ) has aroused widespread concern and made a series of new discoveries.

In addition, in recent years, important achievements have been made in the understanding and research of natural gas hydrate and submarine manganese nodules.

The development of non-traditional mineral resources involves a series of major issues such as national security, social development, people's life and environmental protection. Facing the 2 1 century, solving the problem of mineral resources is of great practical significance for ensuring the sustainable development of the country and society.

4. Objectives, tasks and scientific objectives of non-traditional mineral resources research.

The basic research on the understanding, discovery, development and utilization of non-traditional mineral resources is an internationally competitive, challenging, forward-looking and strategic research topic, which not only involves the guarantee of mineral resources to the sustainable development of society, but also is likely to promote major changes in the whole mining field, so that the earth resources can be used and protected most effectively and the living environment of human beings can be improved. Therefore, this is related to ensuring the sustainable supply of resources in China, preventing resource monopoly, improving comprehensive national strength, helping to form new industrial technologies and new economic growth points in China in the future, and making contributions to China's geoscience research with knowledge innovation.

The study of non-traditional mineral resources is a long-term development process, which is gradually developed with social progress and technological progress. As far as the current tasks and objectives are concerned, it is based on the principle of "looking at the long-term and global, starting from the current and local", focusing on the strategic mineral resources that the country urgently needs at present and in the future, researching and discovering the directions and ways of new types, new fields, new processes and new uses of non-traditional mineral resources, clarifying the main types and development and utilization prospects of non-traditional mineral resources in China, and initially establishing non-traditional mineral resources.

The national goal of non-traditional mineral resources research is to open up a new direction for the sustainable development of China's national economy and society in the 2 1 century, and to provide a scientific basis for meeting the demand of new mineral resources from emerging industries (such as information, communication, environmental protection, health, human settlement, etc.). ) and high-tech development. The scientific goal of non-traditional mineral resources research is to explore new minerals and energy sources with potential significance for the long-term development of China in the future, and to develop the theory, technology and method system of non-traditional mineral resources with China characteristics, so as to utilize and protect the precious earth resources most effectively. To be sure, the study of non-traditional mineral resources will effectively provide new theories, technologies and methods for the prediction, evaluation, development and utilization of mineral resources, predict and discover new types, new minerals, new uses and new target areas of non-traditional mineral resources, and make preparations in advance for the new mineral demand that may be brought about by the economic and social development in the next century. The long-term goal of non-traditional mineral resources research will be to face the sustainable development strategy of China's economy and society in the 2 1 century, to explore the degree of guarantee and substitution of mineral resources for social sustainable development, to establish a theoretical system of non-traditional mineral resources, and to develop corresponding technical methods on the basis of high-tech application, so as to make the most effective use and protection of the earth's materials.

5. Key scientific issues of non-traditional mineral resources research.

Mineral deposits are places where mineral resources are produced. Mineral deposits refer to rocks and ores that can be mined under current technical and economic conditions. The delineation of the deposit is determined according to the industrial grade of useful elements and cut-off grade. To discover and develop new mineral resources, we should use new theories to recognize and evaluate previously unknown mineral resources, use new methods to predict and discover more new mineral resources producing areas, and use new technologies to reduce the requirements of industrial grade and cut-off grade of ore-forming elements to expand the scale and reserves of mineral deposits or develop new uses to expand the types of mineral resources. Therefore, what kind of theory is used to understand non-traditional mineral resources, what kind of method is chosen to discover non-traditional mineral resources under the guidance of new theory, and what kind of technology is used to develop non-traditional mineral resources, which constitutes the key scientific problems in the study of non-traditional mineral resources.

(1) Formation, evolution and metallogenic mechanism of geological anomalies in the process of earth evolution and geosphere action;

(2) Metallogenic diversity-deposit pedigree and new theories and methods of mineral resources exploration;

(3) Material flow of mineral resources and its most effective utilization theory and model;

(4) The genetic mechanism of natural nano-minerals and the development and utilization of their special properties;

(5) Coupling of organic matter and metal elements and their macro-micro control on metal enrichment;

(6) Genetic mechanism and distribution law of natural gas hydrate in China sea area.

6. Understanding and research on non-traditional mineral resources

6. 1 Break through the traditional concept and establish a brand-new view of resources.

Many traditional concepts or artificial boundaries, such as "ore" and "non-ore", "surface ore" and "off-surface ore", "deep ore" and "shallow ore", "natural ore deposit" and "artificial ore deposit", "single ore deposit" and "comprehensive ore deposit", and even "metal ore deposit" and "non-metal ore deposit", all follow. It is necessary to establish a new view of the earth's material resources, that is, all the solid, liquid and gas substances on the earth are resources, but there are resources that have been recognized, discovered and utilized, and there are also resources that have not been recognized, discovered and utilized. Resource is a dynamic concept, which changes constantly with the passage of time, as do "traditional" resources and "non-traditional" resources. Resources have different functions and meanings in different spaces, and people take different countermeasures against them. The earth's material resources are functions of technology, economy, environment, market, humanities and other factors that change with time and space. Even resources are not limited to the earth's material. With the development of space, it is not a "fantasy" to develop and utilize cosmic mineral resources such as the moon.

6.2 Combining the theories of "ore-forming specificity" and "ore-forming diversity", broaden the new thinking of prospecting.

With the discovery of new deposit types, the original theory of deposit genesis, metallogenic conditions, prospecting criteria and criteria become inadequate, imperfect and even inaccurate. The new discovery has broken through many traditional theories and standards of "mineralization specificity". In order to discover new non-traditional deposit types, we must get rid of the shackles of traditional metallogenic theories and standards. "Metallogenic specificity" is only a special case, and "metallogenic diversity" is the universal metallogenic feature, which is reflected in different scale levels and different metallogenic attribute characteristics.

6.3 "Similarity and analogy" and "theory of seeking differences" are combined to seek differences and guide new discoveries.

Discovering and delineating "metallogenic geological anomalies" is the leading work to discover new types of deposits or non-traditional deposits, and the study of metallogenic geological anomalies should be further combined with the analysis of metallogenic diversity. When analyzing the regional metallogenic potential, the diversity of mineralization depends on the diversity of geological anomalies. Therefore, the potential evaluation of new regional mineral resources should include the potential analysis of non-traditional mineral resources, which is a new field to be further explored.

6.4 Combining "basic theory" with "high technology" to evaluate and realize the value of new resources with high technology.

Non-traditional mineral resources are a kind of earth material and the product of geological processes, which are bound to be restricted by the laws of geological movement, and their causes, occurrence and distribution must have their special geological reflections. Understanding and discovering non-traditional mineral resources, it is essential to study the "geological process-response" relationship and manifestation of non-traditional mineral resources in the study of geological basic theory. However, due to technical reasons, many non-traditional mineral resources are listed as "temporarily unavailable". Understanding a new useful mineral or element or useful rock depends to a great extent on discovering new properties and exploring new uses of mineral rocks, which all depend on the development and application of high and new technologies (including identification technology, testing technology, processing technology, exploration technology, etc.). For example, some minerals have new properties, new uses and new values after finishing, deep processing and superfine grinding; Research and development of natural nano-minerals, natural environmental protection minerals and natural rock mineral materials for healthy living. Today, "973" represents major basic theoretical research and "863" represents major high-tech research. Both of them have made and are making great achievements and contributions. But now it is time to give some important research fields that are closely integrated with the two to research space or research conditions. The understanding, discovery, development and utilization of non-traditional mineral resources are typical representatives of the close combination of the two.

6.5 Combine "resource utilization" with "environmental protection" and conduct macro and micro "resources and environment joint evaluation" on non-traditional mineral resources.

The exploitation of traditional mineral resources is considered as one of the important reasons for ecological deterioration and environmental pollution. In fact, most of the earth's excavations are abandoned, which is very harmful to the environment. If all kinds of wastes can be reasonably used as non-traditional mineral resources, we can get the dual effects of fully utilizing resources and protecting the environment. It needs multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral comprehensive research, and resources and environment need joint evaluation and comprehensive management. The joint evaluation of microscopic mineral resources and environment aims at how to obtain the best combination effect of resources and environment in a mining area, which involves the understanding and utilization of "metallogenic diversity", "utilization of earth material resources" and "non-traditional mineral resources".

6.6 "Short-term goals" and "long-term goals" should be combined, and the distance should be combined.

The research and development of non-traditional mineral resources is a forward-looking and strategic work. Today's non-traditional minerals will be emerging or alternative minerals in the future, and will be a longer-term strategic reserve of resources. With the development of social economy and the progress of science and technology, this problem will show its importance and urgency. The National Mineral Resources Planning emphasizes "strengthening the research, development, popularization and application of new theories, technologies, methods and processes for the investigation, evaluation, exploration, development, utilization and protection of mineral resources"; Strengthening the evaluation of resource-rich areas, important minerals and new types of mineral resources with important prospects, actively carrying out the investigation and evaluation of natural gas hydrate and the research on development and utilization technology, and strengthening the investigation, evaluation and research and development of mineral resources in international seabed areas are all problems in the field of non-traditional mineral resources research. At the beginning of the new century, the research on non-traditional mineral resources has been regarded as an important topic. It is the glorious mission of earth science in the new era to make plans, establish projects, form teams, train talents, and carry out research combined with Industry-University-Research to make due contributions to the sustainable development of society.

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