Bauxite is an important source of aluminum. It is a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of hydrated aluminum oxides in the form of gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore. Bauxite is found in China a very abundant mineral resource. It can be mined in more than 10 provinces in China, mainly in Shanxi, Gansu and Guangxi.
The Chinese mining industry has a long history and bauxite mining is one of the oldest industries. In order to maintain the sustainability and safety of this industry, China has promulgated the National Standards for Exploring and Developing of Bauxite. According to this Standard, there are mainly nine industrial exploration indicators for bauxite mines:
1. Geological Conditions: The exploration indicators such as petrology, sedimentology, structure and tectonic, metallogeny and mineralization, physical and chemical ore-forming environment peculiarities, resources distribution and reserves evaluation of the ore-bearing formation should be well investigated during the exploration of bauxite.
2. Ore Bodies: The ore bodies must be described according to the type of ore-bearing formation and the characteristics of the ore body should be identified clearly. The ore-bearing formation thickness, ore body shape, ore position, ore size and ore type should also be recorded for better understanding of the ore body.
3. Ore Reserve: It is necessary to assess the ore reserves accurately. An understanding of the reserves should be developed by analyzing the resource spatial location, ore characteristics and ore grade. Apart from this, ore drilling should also be conducted so that the resource area and the estimated reserves can be identified and confirmed.
4. Ore Processing: The processing capacity is a key indicator to estimate the effectiveness of the bauxite mine. The mining enterprises should be able to estimate the ore processing rate, recovery rate, beneficiation difficulty and production cost. The mining enterprises should take these indexes into consideration in order to maximize the economic benefits.
5. Environment: In order to protect the environment, measures should be taken to prevent environmental pollution during the bauxite mining. This includes innovative technological measures to limit and control dust and noise, as well as waste production and disposal.
6. Safety: The existing bauxite mining sites should be surveyed and it is necessary to identify hidden risks, such as underground fire, cave-in, water and gas burst, etc. The mining enterprises should develop precautionary measures, such as rescue plans and emergency evacuation plans, so as to ensure the safety of the workers and the environment.
7.Tools: The mining enterprises should take into account the most updated mining equipment and safety tools so as to ensure efficiency, safety and reduce the cost.
8. Transportation: The bauxite mining enterprises should pay attention to the technological routes, transportation channels and required transportation vehicles and other equipment for ore transportation.
9. Maintenance: The mining enterprises should set up and maintain the efficiency of the operation and control the cost of maintenance.
These are the major exploration indicators for bauxite mines in China. By ensuring a safe, efficient and environmental-friendly operation in bauxite exploration, China can effectively promote the sustainable development of bauxite mining industry. In addition, the Chinese government should continue to play an important regulatory role to rules on bauxite exploration and ensure the sustainability of the bauxite industry.
