Low-density Geochemical Mapping Cooperation Project Officially Launched in Iran

ICGG Secretary Office

From October 13th to 22th of 2016, a delegation headed by Prof. Gan Xingping and composed of staff from UNESCO International Centre on Global-scale Geochemistry (ICGG) and Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration(IGGE) and Xi’an Geological Survey Center visited Iranian Geological Center to carry out the China-Iran Low-density Geochemical Cooperation Mapping Project.

 carrying out national-scale geochemical mapping in Iran, providing Iran national-scale content and distribution of 69 elements.

On October 15th, Prof. Gan Xingping, deputy director of IGGE and Dr. Wang Xueqiu, executive deputy director of ICGG visited the Institute of Applied Geology, an integrated research institute under the Iranian Geological Survey. They also visited the laboratory and got a full knowledge of the analytical ability of the Iranian laboratory. The representatives of the host institute gave a brief introduction on their activities on regional geology, marine geology, geological exploration, especially REE exploration and expressed their hopes of cooperation with Chinese party for the capacity building of laboratory analytical techniques.

The delegation visiting the Institute of Applied Geology

On October 17th, Mohammad Taghi Korehie, deputy minister of Industry, Minerals and Trade of Iran and director of the Iranian Geological Survey, met the Chinese delegation to express their warm welcome. Mr. Gan Xingping thanked them for their hospitality. During the meeting, the Iranian side expressed its full support for the cooperation in geochemical mapping, and hoped to strengthen cooperation with China in REE survey and mineral beneficiation, groundwater survey in karst area, etc. Both sides agreed that China-Iraq low-density geochemical cooperation was a win-win project and fruitful results could be achieved in the joint efforts of both sides.

Iranian Geological Survey meeting the delegation

During the visit, Dr. Wang Xueqiu conducted a geochemical mapping training course for more than 30 Iranian researchers. The course mainly covered concepts and methods of geochemical mapping, the theories and techniques of global-scale geochemical mapping and national-scale geochemistry mapping; field demonstration for sampling of the floodplain sediments and stream sediments. The two sides discussed in detail the work plan and the roadmap of the China-Iran Low-density Geochemical Cooperation Mapping Project. Each side designated a coordinator, the head of the working group, and personnel respectively in charge of field sampling, laboratory analysis, data management etc.

Geochemical mapping training course given by Dr. Wang Xueqiu

Field sampling demonstration

The implementation of the project will help the capacity building for the techniques of geochemical mapping for Iranian counterparts. The results of the geochemical survey obtained by the project will serve as an important part of the International Scientific Cooperation Project "Chemical Earth" and geochemical mapping of the “One Belt and One Road”. It will provide the Iranian government basic scientific data for decision-making in the fields of mineral resource management, environmental protection and global change study; the Chinese enterprises supportive information to fulfill the “going out” strategy.

Group photo of participants for the Field training