Sichuan has made another breakthrough in mineral exploration. On November 26, it was learned from the Department of Natural Resources that the Dongbeizhai gold deposit exploration project in Songpan County passed an examination by the provincial mineral resources reserves evaluation center. The results indicate that the Dongbeizhai Gold Deposit has an additional 28.24 tonnes of gold resources in this review, bringing the cumulative identified gold resources to 81.06 tonnes. Classified as an extra-large deposit with an average gold grade of 3.75 grams per tonne of ore, it now stands as Sichuan's largest gold deposit by registered resource volume to date.

The exploration work at the Dongbeizhai Gold Deposit was conducted by the 10th Geological Brigade under the Sichuan Bureau of Geology &Mineral Resources. Discovered in the 1970s, the gold deposit underwent systematic exploration over the years, with a cumulative completion of nearly 100,000 meters of drilling, over 4,000 meters of adits, and the collection of 35,000 samples of various types, ultimately achieving a major breakthrough in mineral exploration.

Beyond exploration, the project team concurrently conducted specialized studies, including metallogenesis and metallogenic prediction for the Dongbeizhai Gold Deposit, as well as research on the relationship between tectonism and metallogenesis. Investigations from multiple dimensions, such as tectonic dynamics and mineralogical characteristics, have further elucidated the metallogenic patterns of the Dongbeizhai-type micro-disseminated gold deposit and established a prospecting model. Concurrently, the project conducted mineral processing tests, overcoming technical challenges in treating high-arsenic and high-carbon gold ores from this deposit, thereby laying the foundation for future development and utilization of the ore deposit.

The discovery of the Dongbeizhai Gold Deposit has reshaped the traditional landscape of gold exploration and development in the province, providing a resource foundation for establishing a strategic gold base in western Sichuan. This discovery significantly elevates Sichuan's strategic position in China's gold sector and offers valuable experience and a reference model for exploring similar types of deposits nationwide.