China Hunts for Bauxite Under Coal Fields as Shallow-Buried Resources Deplete

 

New bauxite reserves in the west of Caoyao coal field in Mianchi County, Henan, exceed 160 million tonnes, a survey conducted during 2011-2013 showed. Elsewhere in the province, the amount of bauxite buried under coal field of Yiyang County was estimated at 41.58 million tonnes, according to a pre-study of mining zones already under construction. In addition, an estimated 91.91 million tonnes of bauxite have been discovered in Yuzhou coal field, and the nine ore bodies of Yanlong coal field surveyed boast some 115 million tonnes of bauxite. 

 

Chalco has started developing mining technologies for bauxite mining under coal field to explore resources in Shanxi and Henan, and upgrading equipment so as to cut costs and improve efficiency of underground operations, SMm has learned.