A study of the distribution regularity and development process of the energy metal deposits in "One Belt, One Road" region

To fully understand the basic information of lithium deposits and uranium deposits, the authors performed statistical analysis for "energy metals" of lithium deposit and uranium deposit distribution in "One Belt, One Road" region and summarized geological characteristics and development process of the typical deposits on the basis of referring to a large number of relevant data. At the same time, this paper can provide some scientific basis for the exploitation of "energy metals" in China. Researches show that the "One Belt, One Road" region has 36 large and superlarge lithium deposits, which genetically include hard rock type, saline lake type, sedimentary type and coal associated type, with resource reserves being 7.84, 17.02, 2.375 and 6.23 million tons, respectively. Salt lake lithium deposits are distributed in China and Afghanistan, hard rock type lithium deposits are distributed in Russia and some other countries, sedimentary type lithium deposits are distributed in Serbia and some other countries, and coal associated lithium deposits are only distributed in China. In view of the fact that development of saline lake type lithium deposits will have low impact on the environment, the authors hold that the relevant countries should increase the exploration and development of saline lake lithium resources. The "One Belt, One Road" region has 130 large and superlarge uranium deposits mainly concentrated in Kazakhstan and some other countries, their genetic types are mainly of sandstone type and volcanic rock type, and their uranium resource reserves (reliable recovery cost≤130/kg) are 1.8194 million tons, accounting for 92.12% of the total resource reserves of the "One Belt, One Road" region. It is suggested that China should expand exchange and cooperation with the relevant countries and increase the exploration of sandstone type uranium deposits in northern China. At the same time, the exploration and development of volcanic rock type uranium deposits should also be carried out.