Guizhou makes major bauxite discovery in Qingzhen

Guizhou's Qingzhen county-level city, known as the "Hometown of Bauxite in China", has achieved a major breakthrough in mineral exploration.

Since the launch of a new round of national strategic exploration efforts in 2023, the No 1 Geological Team of the Guizhou Nonferrous and Nuclear Industry Geological Survey Bureau has discovered more than half of the province's newly identified bauxite resources in Qingzhen, with a significant find in the Wangjiazhai area marking the biggest bauxite discovery in central Guizhou in nearly three decades.

"In the past, exploration was limited to shallow areas within 600 meters," explained Liu Tianyi, head of the Wangjiazhai project. "Now, we're going deeper and targeting hidden deposits, which requires new thinking and innovative techniques."

Using over 3,700 borehole datasets, advanced modeling, and integrated analysis of ancient sedimentary environments and regional mineralization patterns, Liu's team applied smart prediction tools and geophysical positioning to guide deep drilling. Their persistence paid off: 17 deep-drill holes yielded an 80 percent mineralization success rate, revealing rich bauxite deposits below 600 meters.

According to team leader Tang Shenggui, the project achieved three records in bauxite exploration in central Guizhou: the deepest single borehole at over 1,300 meters, the thickest bauxite seam at over 25 meters, and the largest breakthrough in fully concealed deep bauxite deposits in the region in nearly 30 years.

These findings highlight the growing potential of deep-earth exploration and reinforce Guizhou's role as a vital resource base for China's aluminum industry.