On March 17, the "Exploration Report of the Tungsten Polymetallic Deposit in the Jiefangqiao Mining Area, Jiangle County, Fujian Province," submitted by Fujian Province's 196 Geological Brigade, successfully passed an expert review organized by the Fujian Provincial Land and Resources Assessment Center.
The Jiefangqiao mining area was identified as one of the high-quality prospecting target zones during the 1:50,000 Wan’an regional mineral geological survey conducted by the 196 Geological Brigade. To implement the new round of strategic actions for mineral exploration breakthroughs, the project received approval for special geological exploration funding from the province in 2022, with extensions granted in 2023 and 2024. Under the comprehensive coordination of leaders at all levels, the project team persevered over three years, completing high-quality geological work including 1:5,000 geological mapping (simplified survey), induced polarization mid-gradient (short-wire) profile measurements, 1:10,000 high-precision magnetic surveys, controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric sounding, trenching, and drilling. Amid a landscape crowded with mining rights, they delineated 35 tungsten ore bodies (including concealed ones) and identified one large-scale tungsten deposit. Additionally, the estimated resources of associated elements such as silver, zinc, sulfur, bismuth, and cadmium also demonstrated significant potential.
The tungsten polymetallic exploration project in the Jiefangqiao mining area of Jiangle County is a key initiative by Fujian Province in response to the national strategic action for mineral exploration breakthroughs. The project area is located within the Wuyi Mountains, characterized by extremely rugged terrain, winding mountain roads, and elevation differences exceeding 800 meters. During the exploration phase, the rainy season compounded the challenges, as harsh natural conditions increased difficulties in transporting personnel and equipment while posing severe tests to the safety and efficiency of various exploration operations. Furthermore, the geological conditions of the Jiefangqiao mining area are highly complex and variable, with intricate rock formations and diverse structural features. The presence of brittle faults, folds, thrust faults, and other geological structures within the mining area adds significant uncertainty to the depth and orientation of ore bodies, greatly increasing the technical difficulty of prospecting.
The discovery of this mining area contributes to ensuring national energy and resource security, provides resource support for Fujian’s economic development, and has fostered professional talent while enhancing exploration technology and innovation capabilities. Moving forward, the Fujian 196 Geological Brigade will build on these achievements, intensifying exploration efforts in and around the mining area, promoting the application of these findings, and supporting the development of Fujian’s mining economy.
