Recently, according to a report from China Mining News, in Jingkou Town, Bobai County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the project team of the Guangxi Sixth Geological Team, working on the "Geological Survey and Evaluation of the Daqiao-Ningtan Tungsten-Molybdenum Polymetallic Deposit in Luchuan County and Bobai County, Guangxi," is carrying out drilling operations for the final borehole. The sounds of drilling and machinery resonate loudly as the team lowers and retrieves the drill.
It is reported that this project builds on the achievements from 2022 to 2023. Using mapping and trenching, the team has continued to trace and expose mineral bodies within four identified prospecting target areas. Drilling has been employed to verify deep structures in the Baishitian and Xinxiu target zones, while mineral inspections have been conducted in the Doudong and Zhoudong-Santan areas. Techniques such as trenching and sampling have been utilized in hopes of discovering new mineral deposits. So far, the project has delineated 46 tungsten (molybdenum) mineralized bodies, with 19 new mineral bodies discovered in the Xinxiu survey area in 2024 alone, among which the No. 18 and No. 19 tungsten (molybdenum) bodies are of significant scale.
As early as the 1970s, the Guangxi Sixth Geological Team began investigating tungsten-molybdenum polymetallic deposits in this region. Over the decades, three generations of geologists have successively carried out exploration work, each yielding prospecting results. Notably, the renowned geophysicist Huang Danian left his mark here during his exploration efforts.
From 1976 to 1978, Huang Danian worked as a geophysical operator with the team, conducting surveys in the Luowu iron mining area of Rong County and the Shiwuo mining area of Beiliu City, Yulin City. Both areas belong to the Yunkai metallogenic belt, which shares a closely related geological and mineralization background with the "Daqiao-Ningtan Tungsten-Molybdenum Polymetallic Deposit Geological Survey and Evaluation Project in Luchuan County and Bobai County." The Yunkai metallogenic belt has a unique geological evolutionary history, characterized by complex basin sedimentation, tectonics, magmatic activity, and intense deformation and metamorphic processes. The stratigraphic lithology, structural features, and magmatic activity in the Luowu iron mining area of Rong County and the Shiwuo mining area of Beiliu City bear many similarities to those in the Daqiao-Ningtan region of Luchuan and Bobai Counties.
According to Bao Guodong, the technical lead of the project, these commonalities allow the team to draw on geophysical data and geological insights from the mining areas where Huang Danian once worked. This provides a broader perspective to analyze the mineralization patterns of the entire region, offering strong support and valuable experience for the smooth progress and in-depth development of the project. It further enhances the understanding of the distribution and formation mechanisms of tungsten-molybdenum polymetallic resources within the Yunkai metallogenic belt.
Currently, not far from the project site, the Youmapo tungsten-molybdenum mining development project is actively underway with infrastructure construction on a nearby mountain. The tunnel entrance at the base of the mountain has taken initial shape, while a tall blue derrick stands prominently atop the mountain, blending with the sky and signaling the imminent emergence of underground treasures.
It is understood that in 2005, Bobai Judian Mining Co., Ltd. obtained the exploration rights for the Youmapo mining area and, starting in 2012, commissioned the Guangxi Sixth Geological Team to conduct exploration work. Guided by theories such as magmatic hydrothermal mineralization, contact metasomatic mineralization, structural control of mineralization, and geochemical anomalies with mineralization alteration clues, the geological team executed various tasks, facilitating the smooth advancement of the prospecting efforts.
According to reports, exploration concluded in January 2016, with an investment of approximately 16 million yuan in survey funds, 15,060.72 meters of drilling, and 3,550 basic analytical samples. Through this exploration, within the exploration rights area, 20 industrial tungsten mineral bodies, 25 molybdenum mineral bodies, and 7 pyrite mineral bodies were delineated.
A relevant official from Bobai Judian Company stated that the Youmapo tungsten-molybdenum mine in Bobai County is a tungsten deposit in Guangxi with relatively thick ore bodies and high grades. The project involves a total investment of 852 million yuan and is scheduled for completion and commissioning in 2026. "Once operational, the project is expected to produce approximately 3,240 standard tons of tungsten concentrate annually, 60,000 tons of sulfur concentrate, and other by-products, generating an estimated sales revenue of 350 million yuan. It is projected to contribute nearly 100 million yuan in annual taxes, provide nearly 400 jobs, and stimulate the development of related industries in the surrounding area, such as transportation, building materials, electricity, and services."
