Investigation of Development and Utilization Indicators and Potential Evaluation for Paragenetic, Coexisting and Low-grade Mineral Resources of Vanadium based on the Metallogenic Belts in China

One of the characteristic features of the mineral resources in China is the abundance of paragenetic, coexisting, low-grade mineral resources. As a consequence of the rapid development of new technologies, processes, and equipment, as well as marked increase in the demand for associated minerals to facilitate industrial transformation, upgrading, and high-quality development, the utilization of paragenetic, coexisting, and low-grade mineral resources has attracted considerable interest. Currently, however, these resources are not included in national statistics, which has influenced the country’s macro-decision-making regarding mineral resource management and security guarantees. On the basis of the division of the national three-level mineralization zones and belts, in this study, we sought to establish investigation and potential assessment methods for the exploitation and utilization of important paragenetic, coexisting, and low-grade mineral resources. Using vanadium ore as an example, based on sorting of the resource endowment characteristics of the main vanadium ore mineralization zones and belts in China, we investigated the current exploitation and utilization indicators of production mines in these zones and belts, and evaluated the potential of paragenetic, coexisting, and low-grade vanadium ore resources in China according to zone and belt. The results revealed that the currently exploitable paragenetic, coexisting, and low-grade vanadium ore resources amount to several hundred thousand tons. It is suggested that investigation and research on the current exploitation and utilization indicators of other important minerals such as nickel, cobalt, gallium in the country should be conducted, and the geological exploration standards and norms for certain mineral species should be revised. Having established new standards, assessments should be conducted to identify the reserves of important mineral resources in the country and to enhance the security capacity of these domestic mineral resources.