Evaluation Of Bauxite Resources Potential In Henan Province And Their Exploration & Development Strategy

Henan province is abundant in bauxite resources, the proved reserves ranked second in China, and which are mostly distributed in the triangle zone around Sanmenxia-Zhengzhou-Pingdingshan covering an area of 20,000 square kilometers. The ore-bearing bed is the Benxi Formation of the Upper Carboniferous. Aluminum-based non-ferrous metals industry is a key industry in Henan province, where output of alumina and electrolytic aluminum ranked first in China. With the rapid development of aluminum industry, the shortage of bauxite resources has become a major factor restricting its healthy development in Henan province.The metallogenic patterns of the bauxite deposits in the shallow of Zhijian in Shan county, the depth of Caoyao coal mine and the west part of Jiajiawa in Mianchi county are established based on the data in regional geology, metallogeny and ore deposit. A regional metallogenic model for the bauxite deposits in Henan province is also proposed according to the analyses on their metallogenic setting, distribution, ore bodies characteristics, origin and mineralization regularity, combined with the summarization of factors for potential assessment of regional bauxite resources. Three continuous variables of Al2O3, A/S and ore bed thickness and three discrete variables of paleogeography, bauxite number and formation as predictor variables are determine after classification and geological statistic analysis of those factors. The metallogenic advantage degree of each predicator area is calculated and the predicator areas are optimized. At last, the potential bauxite resources of Henan province are estimated using geologic volume method, indicating 1196, 1219, and 3142 million tons of the 334-1, 334-2, and 334-3 potential bauxite resources in the depths of 0 to 300 m, 300 to 500 m, and 500 to 1000 m, respectively. Total potential bauxite resources of Henan province above 1000 m depth is 5557 million tons.The bauxite resource bearing capacity and bauxite resource guarantee of Henan province are analyzed on the basis of the potential resources assessment. For the guarantee of bauxite resources and persistent development of aluminum industry, some policies and technological measures are suggested as below:①carrying out exploration and exploiting of deep bauxite resource;②prospecting for bauxite deposits using various comprehensive means;③specifying entry conditions for bauxite exploration and exploiting;④raising the rate of bauxite recovery;⑤utilizing ores with high sulphur content and those of low-grade;⑥encouraging purchasing bauxite ores from abroad;⑦applying new technology to raise utilization coefficient of bauxite;...