After the successful atomic bombing, the Chinese people's waist pole completely hardened. However, when the atomic bomb was being made, the mainland was faced with a decades-long depleted uranium dilemma, only to find out later that it was deceived and misled by the West, which affected the direction of uranium exploration by the Chinese people.
Abundant uranium ore reserves
As one of the top three countries in terms of installed nuclear power capacity, the importance of uranium resources is self-evident. China has accumulated rich experience in exploration and mining, and has discovered a series of large uranium deposits, such as the Pingdingshan uranium mine in Henan, the largest uranium deposit in China, and the Karamay uranium mine in Xinjiang.
The discovery of these uranium resources has greatly increased China's uranium self-sufficiency, reduced its dependence on external imports, and laid a solid foundation for the development of the nuclear power industry.
In addition to exploration and mining, China has also made significant progress in uranium beneficiation and enrichment technology. China's self-developed uranium separation and smelting technologies, such as wet leaching and acid leaching, have improved the selection and extraction rate of uranium, reduced production costs, and enhanced China's competitiveness in the field of nuclear energy.
In addition, China has also vigorously developed enrichment technology and built a number of advanced uranium enrichment plants, such as the Jiujiang Uranium Enrichment Plant in Sichuan and the Xinxing Uranium Enrichment Plant in Jiangxi, so that uranium resources can be used more effectively.
go astray
Early uranium exploration in China was influenced by foreign theories, especially the discovery of the Olympic Dam copper-uranium gold deposit in Australia. Granite-type uranium deposits are considered to be the main targets for large uranium deposits, and this theory has influenced the direction of exploration in China for decades.
However, with the development of domestic exploration technology and the accumulation of practical experience, China has gradually formed its own exploration concepts and methodologies.
In China's practice, in addition to granite-type uranium deposits, other types of uranium deposits have also been discovered, such as sandstone-type uranium, carbonate-type uranium, etc.
These different types of deposits are distinctly different in terms of geological structure, metallogenic environment, and mineral assemblage, and therefore require different exploration methods and techniques.
China has gradually improved the technical roadmap for uranium exploration, formed a diversified exploration model, and improved the efficiency and accuracy of uranium resource exploration.
China's "depleted uranium" dilemma
Although China has made some progress in the exploration of granite-type uranium, such as the discovery of the 711 mine in Jinyinzhai in Hunan in 1957, this success has not been replicated in the decades that followed.
As a result, China has been in a state of "depleted uranium" for a long time, and its dependence on imports has seriously affected the country's nuclear energy security and military readiness. In the face of this challenge, China has gradually deepened its understanding of uranium resources and stepped up domestic uranium exploration and development.
In order to get rid of the "depleted uranium" dilemma, China has carried out many explorations and attempts in exploration. In addition to granite-type uranium deposits, China has begun to focus on other types of deposits, such as sandstone-type uranium, carbonate-type uranium, etc.
Through continuous exploration and practice, China has discovered a number of new uranium deposits, including large-scale uranium deposits, providing a solid resource base for China's nuclear energy development.
At the same time, China has also increased its investment in research and development of nuclear energy technology, and promoted innovation in uranium ore beneficiation and smelting and extraction technology. The self-developed uranium beneficiation and smelting technology and enrichment technology not only improve the extraction efficiency and purity of uranium, but also reduce the production cost and enhance the competitiveness of the domestic nuclear energy industry.
In addition, China has actively cooperated with international partners and achieved a series of achievements in technical exchanges and resource sharing. Through international cooperation, China has continuously absorbed advanced international experience and technology, which has promoted the development of its nuclear energy industry.
Uranium deposits under oil and coal fields
In recent years, China has achieved remarkable results by continuously improving its uranium exploration technology. The discovery of large quantities of undiscovered uranium near coal and oil fields laid the foundation for China's self-sufficiency in uranium supply. The discovery of such deposits has greatly changed the pattern of uranium resources in China.
These deposits are characterized by complex geological structures, unique metallogenic conditions, and dispersed distribution of uranium-bearing minerals, which require innovative exploration methods and technical means.
In order to develop these newly discovered deposits, China has stepped up its investment in research and development of uranium exploration technology. Through the introduction of foreign advanced technology and experience, combined with the actual situation in China, China has gradually established an exploration process that adapts to the characteristics of diversified mineral deposits.
For example, the use of geophysical exploration, remote sensing technology and geochemical methods to carry out comprehensive and in-depth exploration and evaluation of ore deposits has improved the efficiency and accuracy of uranium resource exploration.
In addition, China is also actively promoting the integration of exploration technology and intelligent technology, using advanced technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite remote sensing, and artificial intelligence to optimize the exploration process, reduce exploration costs, and improve the intelligent level of exploration. These measures have not only promoted the development and utilization of China's uranium resources, but also contributed to the improvement of China's technological strength in the field of nuclear energy.
Uranium extraction from seawater and "sky and depth" exploration technology
In addition to uranium discoveries near coal fields and oil fields, China has also made breakthroughs in uranium extraction from seawater and integrated exploration technology in the sky.
The technology of extracting uranium from seawater can make use of the abundant uranium resources in seawater, which has greatly increased China's uranium reserves. Through the technology of uranium extraction from seawater, China can not only develop uranium resources in seawater, but also reduce its dependence on traditional mineral resources, realize the diversified supply of uranium resources, and provide a new guarantee for the country's energy security.
At the same time, the "deep in the sky" technology has enabled China to discover more large uranium deposits, further ensuring the stability of uranium supply. This technology uses advanced remote sensing, geophysics, geology and artificial intelligence technologies to conduct comprehensive three-dimensional exploration and analysis of underground resources, greatly improving the accuracy and efficiency of discovering large uranium deposits.
Through the "deep in the sky" technology, China has discovered several new uranium deposits, providing important support for the country's nuclear energy development.
In addition, China has also conducted a lot of research and practice in uranium beneficiation and smelting technology, environmental protection and sustainable use of resources.
For example, the uranium beneficiation and smelting process should be optimized to reduce resource waste and environmental pollution, and the ecological restoration of mining areas should be strengthened to achieve a virtuous cycle of resource development and ecological environmental protection. These measures have not only improved the efficiency of China's uranium resource utilization, but also laid a solid foundation for the country's sustainable development.
epilogue
China's efforts and achievements in resolving the issue of "depleted uranium" are encouraging. Through scientific and technological innovation and the upgrading of exploration technology, China has successfully achieved self-sufficiency in uranium supply, which not only ensures the country's nuclear energy security and military readiness, but also provides a solid foundation for China's position in the global nuclear energy field.
In the future, it is hoped that China will continue to increase the research and development of uranium resources and make greater contributions to the sustainable development of the world's nuclear energy industry.