The Hunan Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration disclosed on a certain date that, through innovative geological prospecting theories and long-term exploration, it has accumulated a manganese ore resource volume of 10 million tons in the Qiyang-Lingling Basin, located in Yongzhou, Hunan Province. It is estimated that the manganese ore resource volume in the Shuibutou mining area could exceed 100 million tons, and the overall potential reserve of manganese ore resources in the Qiyang-Lingling Basin may reach over 100 million tons.

The manganese ore exploration work is being carried out in the Shuibutou mining area, located in Yongzhou, Hunan Province.

Director Liao Fengchu of the Hunan Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources introduced that manganese is a basic raw material for industries such as steel, new energy, and new materials. Currently, China requires tens of millions of tons of metallic manganese annually. As a major consumer of manganese resources, China has a high reliance on imported manganese ore. Hunan Province is known as the "hometown of non-ferrous metals." The Hunan Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, in collaboration with the Wuhan Geological Survey Center of the China Geological Survey, Hunan Rail Transit Holding Group, and other units, has achieved significant breakthroughs in manganese exploration in Yongzhou after long and arduous efforts.

Technicians demonstrate the newly discovered manganese carbonate ore drilling.

Xu Junwei, the chief engineer of the Hunan Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, stated that through the study of the enrichment mechanism of manganese in the Permian Gufeng Formation and geological exploration in multiple mining areas in the Qiling Basin of Yongzhou City, the institute has identified this region as a new stratigraphic level, direction, and base for manganese ore exploration breakthroughs in Hunan Province. Previously, the institute had already discovered manganese resources of tens of thousands of tons within the basin; since the national new round of strategic action for mineral exploration breakthroughs, it has successively discovered manganese resources of tens of thousands of tons in the Dongxiangqiao Manganese Mine, Daotianchong Manganese Mine, and Maozhu Manganese Mine. Recently, a drilling operation at the Shuibutou Mining Area discovered an industrial manganese ore body at a depth of 1,000 meters, indicating significant potential for manganese resources in the manganese-bearing syncline. Analysis suggests that upon completion of the current exploration work, the carbonate manganese ore resources in the mining area could exceed tens of millions of tons.

Various manganese ore specimens on display at the Science and Technology Museum of the Yongzhou Base of the Hunan Institute of Geochemistry.

It is reported that the National Manganese Ore Exploration Symposium was held in Yongzhou, Hunan Province, during which experts conducted on-site inspections of the Shuibutou Manganese Mine's Tianyanling mining section. They also listened to a presentation by the technical director of the Hunan Institute of Geochemistry on the exploration status of the mining area. The experts believe that the exploration and development of low-grade carbonate manganese ore in the Qiling Basin, Yongzhou, Hunan, serves as a good demonstration for the nation. Liao Fengchu stated that the preliminary industrial work, including survey evaluation, mining exploration, and development utilization of this manganese ore belt, is progressing simultaneously, which is of great significance for enhancing China's self-sufficiency and security in manganese resources.