Team 6 has discovered a super-large gold mine in Shuiwangzhuang mining area. Photo courtesy of Team Six
Old photos of the field work of team six. Photo courtesy of Team Six
Figure ①: The members of the Sixth Team are engaged in geological exploration in Tajikistan. Photo taken by Hao Yonggang ②: Six team members carry out mineral survey in Xinjiang. Photo courtesy of Team Six
On October 2, 2022, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader wrote back to all geologists of the Sixth Geological Brigade of Shandong Bureau of Geology and Minerals, and raised ardent expectations for them to carry forward their fine traditions and do a good job in mineral exploration, encouraging them to strive to write a new chapter in the "heroic geological team".
Take up your bags and go to the world, and walk all over the mountains before you see gold. Our reporter went to Weihai, Shandong Province, and approached the Sixth Geological Brigade, recording the exploration stories of the team members who waded through mountains and rivers, slept in the wind, and overcame difficulties and the extraordinary course of prospecting for the country, and felt the fine tradition of patriotic dedication, pioneering and innovative, and hard struggle … …
— — Editor
Shixian Li, an 86-year-old former deputy chief engineer of the Sixth Geological Brigade of Shandong Bureau of Geology and Minerals, opened a drawer and took out a People’s Daily dated October 5, 2022. He read it word by word. "I read the reply from the General Secretary again and again, and I was very excited and encouraged … …” Shixian Li said.
Since its establishment in 1958, it has completed drilling footage of more than 5 million meters, equivalent to the height of more than 600 Mount Everest. Accumulated proven gold resources are more than 2,810 tons, making it the geological team with the most gold prospecting in China; In 1992, he was awarded the honorary title of "Heroic Geological Team with Outstanding Achievements and Selfless Dedication" by the State Council … … Close the newspaper, Shixian Li talked about the glorious course of Team Six.
Searching for gold to serve the country and breaking the traditional prospecting model
■ The first super-large altered rock type gold deposit in China has been found.
Shandong Jiaodong Zhaoyuan, known as "Jincheng Tianfu", has a local folk song: "The golden mule goes, the mill turns, and all it grinds is Jin Doudou." Legend has it that it’s not easy to get "Jin Doudou", you have to open the mountain gate first. In 1958, a 94-member exploration team advanced to Zhaoyuan and took the first step in searching for gold for the country. This team is the predecessor of the Sixth Team.
In 1960, Shixian Li graduated from the Geology Department of Shandong University, and was assigned to the Sixth Team, just in time for the "General Prospecting War". During the day, the team members searched for clues, leveled alleys and dug shallow wells, and at night, they spread hay, paved the floor and made plans. Shixian Li made up his mind: We must dig up several "Jin Doudou" for our country!
At the beginning of the construction of the team, the members of the sixth team just circled in the gold-bearing quartz vein type gold mine. "At that time, by foreign experts ‘ The large fault zone only guides ore but does not store it ’ Because of the influence of the conclusion, we regard the great fault zone as a restricted area for prospecting, and have never ‘ Step beyond the line ’ 。” Shixian Li said.
Are there any other types of large gold deposits? On the coast of Bohai Sea and Laizhou Bay, there is a small island surrounded by water on three sides — — Sanshan island. Stepping on a foot thick snow and facing the biting cold wind, the six team members went to Sanshan Island; After sampling and testing, it is found that there is a new type of gold mine here — — Altered rock type gold deposit in fracture zone.
This is a great discovery! "For this discovery, the members of the six teams fought bravely, and even some members gave their precious lives." Shixian Li said.
In 1966, Zhang Yuzhi was appointed as the technical director of Sanshan Island regional census, when he had just undergone major lung surgery. Every morning, he waded through the water island to select points and take samples, and at dusk, he returned with his ore on his back … … The leader of the unit was afraid that his body could not stand it and wanted to transfer him back to the office, but Zhang Yuzhi chose to stick to it: "The country asked us to find gold. How can we find it when people are not in the wild?" At the last moment of his life, he put on hiking shoes and walked around the ward until he never stood up again.
On the basis of general survey and exploration, the mining exploration report compiled by Zhang Yuzhi passed the evaluation, and the first super-large altered rock type gold deposit in China was found! "This discovery has broken the traditional prospecting model." Shixian Li said, "Soon, we found a super-large Jiaojia gold mine in the middle of another fault zone; I touched Xincheng Gold Mine, Matang Gold Mine and Dongji Gold Mine. "
Finding the mine is only the first step. The team members feel that it is an urgent task to analyze and summarize the theory of new types of gold deposits and guide gold exploration. In 1971, the team set up a comprehensive geological research group, which was headed by Shixian Li. One day in 1976, in a small farmhouse, Shixian Li got together with his team members to discuss … …
"If the gold mine is found, you must first name it." Shixian Li said. "There are Carlin-type gold mines and Rand-type gold mines abroad. Why can’t we call them Jiaojia-type?" "You must put ‘ Broken zone ’ Crown, this is the main feature … …”
Everyone said a word to me, and finally determined the name of the mine. In 1977, at the Second National Gold Geology Conference, "Jiaojia-style altered rock gold deposit in fracture zone" was officially named and established. In 1985, the project achievement of Team Six, Discovery of Jiaojia New Type Gold Deposit and Its Outstanding Prospecting Effect, won the first National Science and Technology Progress Award.
Be brave in pioneering and March towards the depths of the earth.
■ "Five Golden Flowers" such as Sizhuang and Jiaojia bloom for the second time.
In the history of gold exploration, "five golden flowers" are famous far and near. This "golden flower" is not a woman, but a genuine "golden flower".
In 2003, Wang Qihong, the twelfth captain of the Sixth Team, took office. Before leaving, Wang Qihong, who was usually taciturn, uttered a few words: "Thank you to the Party Committee of the Bureau for giving me this burden. If there is a ladder to the sky, I can take this team to reach for the moon!"
"malicious words" have been released, but the problem is in front of us! In the past, prospecting was within 500 meters below the surface, but now the surface mines and shallow mines have basically been developed. What should we do next? Looking for minerals deep in the earth, this is the only way out!
With the support of the Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the battle headquarters with Wang Qihong as the chief commander was established, and the technical backbone was selected to form a project team. In the first month of 2005, the sky was full of snow, and the drums of the "Sizhuang Battle" were drumming, and the six teams were ready to go, heading for the underground kilometer. Some people have questioned that it is impossible to form a large mine here because of its "thin ore body, low grade, small scale and deep burial". Wang Qihong insisted: "We must break through!"
Jiang Hongli, the technical director of the project, locked himself in the headquarters, repeatedly looked at the drawings, turned over the exploration and mining data and analyzed the deep structural changes. After repeated deliberation, he improved the construction scheme, and made two exploratory drilling holes in the most likely ore-seeing part.
A hole, a dozen is 2 months, thousands of meters. The first drill hit the gold as I wished; The second drill saw a good mine, and its grade and thickness were unexpected. In the end, 52 boreholes were drilled, with a penetration of more than 40,000 meters, and the proven resources of Sizhuang Gold Mine were 51.83 tons, with a potential economic value of more than 8 billion yuan. The first "Golden Flower" was born in Sizhuang, which is the first super-large deep gold mine in China.
Will there be a miracle in the deep part of Jiaojia in the north of Sizhuang? Wang Qihong decided to try. With the experience of Sizhuang and the technical scheme, Jiaojia’s deep exploration was "pleasantly surprised" at the beginning, but when drilling the fourth hole, something worrying happened: no mine was hit.
The headquarters froze up and down … … Wang Qihong called a meeting of technicians to organize discussions, and various technical means of geological and geophysical exploration went into battle. Everyone made a bold guess: this buried "golden flower" may be dumbbell-shaped.
Sure enough, when the drilling went to the eighth drill, we finally found the "dumbbell handle" in the depth of 1000 meters. At the moment when the core at the expected mine site was taken up, the young team member Bao Zhongyi rushed forward and excitedly brushed away the dust on the rock: Ming Jin Shanshan shines!
The test results made everyone jump for joy: the highest gold grade was 110.04g/ton. During the deep exploration in Jiaojia, the Sixth Team finally discovered 105 tons of gold resources, with a potential economic value of more than 20 billion yuan. Subsequently, Zhu Guo, Li Jia, Sha Ling, Qian Chen and other "three golden flowers" bloomed for the second time … …
Pass from generation to generation, follow the footsteps of our predecessors
■ Establish four provincial and ministerial innovation platforms and six high-level scientific and technological talent innovation teams.
Fan Jiameng, the "three generations of the earth", followed his grandfather and uncle to the mountains when he was a child, fiddling with compasses and waving hammers. Xiao Jiameng often thought, "When can I find treasures?" After graduating from college, Fan Jiameng joined the Sixth Team. Looking forward to it is beautiful, but it is really on the road to finding gold. He played a "retreat" … …
In 2012, Fan Jiameng was sent to Xinjiang for exploration. Trekked more than 3,000 kilometers and arrived at Lop Nur Town Transfer Station. "On that day, the temperature was MINUS 20 degrees Celsius, and we were at ‘ Diwozi ’ I stayed up all night. " Fan Jiameng said that that night, he stayed up all night looking at the leaking roof, the uneven ground and the floor covered with debris … …
Arriving at the project site the next day, Fan Jiameng stood on the Gobi Desert, listening to the wind, looking at the dust all over the sky, without a trace of green, and several empty iron houses trembled in the wind! Fan Jiameng’s mood is very low: "I want to pick a load!"
Once, his mother called him and said sadly, "Why don’t you tell the team to go back to Shandong and go out in the wild?" Unexpectedly, grandpa’s yelling came from the other end of the phone: "Do you think geological exploration is for fun? If you can’t eat this bitterness, don’t come to the sixth team! " Mother didn’t dare to speak any more, but after a few words of comfort, she hung up the phone … …
"At the beginning is blunt ‘ Hero Geological Team ’ Come, then retreat is not a joke? " Fan Jiameng calmed down and remembered his grandfather’s words: "Choosing geology means choosing to be with hardship and be at home in the world;" Choosing six teams is choosing responsibility. " Fan Jiameng stayed, and 10 months later they completed the exploration project of Lop Nur.
In order to pave the way for young scientific and technological talents to become talents, Team Six has established four provincial and ministerial innovation platforms and six high-level scientific and technological talents innovation teams. In the exploration battle of Shuiwangzhuang mining area, the youth geological project team was established in the team, and Fan Jiameng bravely took the lead and became the person in charge. Aiming at the problem that core sampling in the fractured zone is easy to damage the drill bit, their team invented and introduced innovative technologies such as "bending-proof drilling tool", "drag reduction inner pipe" and "hydraulic cutter".
Even with the new technology, the construction period is still urgent. They compare the progress of the project every day, find problems and think about countermeasures. One day, there was a heavy rain, and the office was blacked out, so candles could only be used for lighting; The candlelight jumped, reflecting the faces of several young people. When the statistics of the engineering quantity of the day were completed, it was sunny and sunny, and the stars were all over the sky. Eating instant noodles and looking at the starry sky, Fan Jiameng muttered, "I miss the steaming steamed buns of my mother."
After exploration, Shuiwangzhuang mining area has discovered a total of 186 tons of gold resources, which is the largest gold deposit discovered in Zhaoping fault zone so far. Zhaoping fault zone has thus become the third thousand-ton ore-controlling fault zone in China.
Go abroad and join in the construction of the "Belt and Road"
■ In Team Six, everyone is good.
In recent years, the Sixth Team has shouldered the mission entrusted by the state and helped the countries along the Belt and Road to achieve a breakthrough in prospecting. We’re leaving again! Before leaving, Zhang Peng’s wife always felt that she didn’t bring enough things, so she bought him new shoes, socks and water cups early. "I will go to Sudan next week, and it will be half a year before we meet again." Zhang Peng said.
In 2012, Zhang Peng followed the team to Tajikistan. The mining area is located in Pamirs, which is nearly 4000 meters above sea level. The first difficulty is to overcome altitude sickness. Oxygen is thin, Zhang Peng is always flustered and short of breath, nosebleeds flow intermittently, and his lips are cracked … …
The temperature in the plateau is low. Every October, the mountains are closed by heavy snow, and the draught has become a problem. You can only smash ice cubes and use the stove to make water. Cooking on the plateau, steamed bread is not ripe, bite sticky, eat a steamed bun even for the New Year. "Knock around with a hammer and take a bunch of samples back. The shoes and trousers are worn out and can only be mended by themselves." Zhang Peng recalled.
Loneliness is the most unbearable. "In a deserted place, it is a surprise to hear wolves barking!" Zhang Peng said that he was afraid of his family’s worries, and told his wife that his job was like a tour of the mountains and waters, which was a "pulse" for the earth. The wife complained, "Going abroad ‘ Take a pulse ’ , why so long? " Zhang Peng said, "This is a national event, and we must do our best." Finally, through core comparison, the team explored the prospecting idea of gently inclined ore bodies and completed the task ahead of schedule.
In 2021, Zhang Peng became the head of Sudan Project Department. Slowly, the wife understood that the husband’s job is to travel through mountains and rivers, not to travel around. "Only when the country is rich and strong, and the six teams are stable, our small family will be happy." The wife said.
"On Team Six, everyone is good." Ding Zhengjiang, the captain of the Sixth Team, said, "The road ahead is long, and we should carry forward ‘ Hero Geological Team ’ Fine traditions, and strive to explore big gold mines for the country. "
■ Reporter’s Notes
Adhering to the heart of serving the country by geology
Mount Everest, more than 8000 meters above sea level, is an unattainable height for many people. During the interview, a set of figures was shocking: "Since its establishment in 1958, the six teams have identified more than 2,810 tons of gold resources and completed drilling footage of more than 5 million meters, which is equivalent to drilling through more than 600 Mount Everest!"
This set of figures is the result of the blood and sweat of the six teams. In the early days of the founding of New China, the older generation of prospectors set foot on the road of searching for gold … … For the cause of the motherland, they neglected their families, paid precious youth, and some even gave their lives.
After more than 60 years of hurricane and rain, some of the first generation explorers of the Sixth Team have passed away, but the spirit of faith, concentration on prospecting for mines and sincere service to the country is still passed on. They are full of blood, pack up their bags, climb mountains and follow the footsteps of their predecessors … …
In the interview, the words of an old comrade impressed the reporter: "Gold is not full of red, but the heart of a child is full of red." Faith can move mountains. It’s a long way to find gold. I hope the Sixth Team will carry forward the past and carry forward the cause, uphold the spirit of serving the country by geology, and strive to write a new chapter of "Hero Geological Team" in the new round of breakthrough in prospecting.