Three and a half years later, when the reporter visited Zhou Qi, the chief scientist of Guizhou Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and the director of the Technical Innovation Center for Mineral Resources Exploration Engineering in Bedrock Area of the Natural Resources Department of the Provincial Geological Survey, his white hair had covered his temples.

Zhou Qi (second from the right) and his team discuss exploration data collection in Songtao manganese mining area

In two months' time, this "manganese man" who has been dealing with manganese geological prospecting for 43 years will celebrate his 60th birthday.

Although he is getting older, the burden on Zhou Qi seems to be heavier.

Project discussion and tackling, key laboratory construction plan formulation, on-site technical guidance, field investigation... These days, around the major strategic deployment of Guizhou Province to promote "rich ore and refined development", Zhou Qi is almost continuous, often working late at night.

Zhou Qi (second from left) and his team discussed in Datangpo Manganese Ore District, Songtao

As the technical director of major scientific and technological engineering projects in Guizhou Province, how to carry out the research on data model driven metallogenic system, metallogenic regularity and prospecting model, and research on intelligent prediction and evaluation theory and method of mineral resources based on big data, He should take the lead in implementing digital exploration and submitting new target areas for ore prospecting.

　　 At the same time, he is also responsible for the construction of Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Strategic Mineral Intelligence Exploration, a high-energy scientific and technological innovation platform for the province's "rich ore and refined development".

Zhou Qi and the team discussed and promoted the major collaborative innovation project of deep buried manganese ore prospecting breakthrough

Zhou Qi said frankly, "The pressure is great and the task is heavy, but he is confident to play a leading role to overcome the scientific and technological problems that are being faced and will be faced."

His confidence comes from the spur of honor. On January 19, the "National Engineer Award" commendation conference was held in the Great Hall of the People. Zhou Qi was awarded the title of "National Outstanding Engineer", which is the highest honor he has received since he worked.

His confidence comes from his determination and persistence to "find more ore, large ore and rich ore for the motherland" for more than 40 years.

In 2004, Zhou Qi observed geological phenomena in underground prospecting tunnels

In 1981, Zhou Qi, 17 years old, graduated from the geological survey and prospecting major of Kunming Geological School, the former Ministry of Geology, and was assigned to the manganese special research group of the 103 Geological Brigade of Guizhou Provincial Geological Bureau.

At that time, as an important strategic key mineral resource of the country, China's manganese ore resources were seriously insufficient for a long time with low grade. The self-produced manganese ore could not meet the domestic demand, and a large number of imports were needed every year.

In 2006, Zhou Qi carried out investigation and research work in Datangpo manganese ore district in eastern Guizhou

Faced with the great demand of the country's scarce strategic manganese resources, Zhou Qi took the slogan of "finding more ore, large ore and rich ore for the motherland" hanging on the outside wall of his dormitory as his original intention and dream at the beginning of his work. From then on, Zhou Qi has worked hard for a long time in the front line of Wuling Mountain in Guizhou to carry out manganese ore geological prospecting and scientific research.

The genetic theory and metallogenic model of ore deposits are the core scientific issues of ore deposit science. The international academic community has always believed that the large-scale manganese mineralization is the product of exogenous sedimentation, that is, the traditional metallogenic theory of "exogenous exogenous" manganese ore.

In 2012, Zhou Qi (the first from the left) studied and discussed the plan of manganese ore prospecting in the Lijiawan manganese ore area in Songtao

Through exploration and practice, Zhou Qi and his team found that this traditional theory did not conform to the objective reality of manganese ore in Wulingshan area.

"At the beginning, we used the international traditional manganese ore mineralization theory to predict and carefully delineate a hidden manganese ore prospecting target area in eastern Guizhou. We thought that the possibility of success should be great, but it was verified by two drilling projects in succession." Zhou Qi said, "At that time, we felt great pressure, and the team's confidence in finding hidden manganese ore was severely hit. After deep reflection, I realized that we must break away from the shackles of the traditional manganese ore mineralization theory. For this reason, we took root in the field, carried out long-term exploration and practice in the mining area, and experienced many twists and turns and even failures, finally successfully breaking through the new type of manganese ore prospecting and exploration theory and key technologies. "

In 2014, Zhou Qi (first from the left) explained special geological phenomena to the team's young scientific and technical personnel at Maomao Rock, Datangpo Manganese Ore District, eastern Guizhou

Based on the established original theory of manganese ore formation, Zhou Qi's team has developed an original technical system for prospecting and exploration of new types of concealed manganese ore, and has achieved remarkable results through the transformation and application of the national integrated exploration area of manganese ore. Four world-class concealed super large manganese deposits and a batch of large and medium-sized manganese deposits have been newly discovered and explored, realizing a historic breakthrough in manganese ore prospecting in China, The newly discovered super large manganese deposits account for about one third of the global total.

It is the historic breakthrough in the theoretical and technical system and engineering application of new type manganese ore prospecting and exploration that has changed the national pattern of manganese ore resources, making Guizhou's manganese ore reserves rank first in Asia, and providing "ballast" for safeguarding the national security of manganese ore resources. It also supports the construction of the first batch of strategic emerging industrial clusters in China - the strategic emerging industrial clusters of new functional materials in Tongren, Guizhou Province.

In 2017, Zhou Qi (first from the left) discussed the scientific issues of manganese ore at Datangpo, Songtao

In 2019, Zhou Qi won the 2018 Guizhou Provincial Highest Science and Technology Award. Before that, he also won the highest geological science award in China - Li Siguang Geological Science Award and Zhou Guangzhao Science and Technology Award.

While prospecting, Zhou Qi paid close attention to the cultivation of young geological talents in the province. In recent years, through "mentoring", Zhou Qi's team has grown rapidly into a group of young scientific and technological workers who can shoulder the heavy task. They have successively won the "Silver Hammer Award of the 16th Youth Geological Science and Technology Award of the Geological Society of China", the Youth Science and Technology Award of Guizhou Province, the second prize of the Ministry of Natural Resources for land and resources science, and the third prize of Guizhou Province for scientific and technological progress, The team also won the honor of "National Advanced Group of Professional and Technical Talents".

In 2020, Zhou Qi will guide the Zhenfeng Zhexiang Gold Mine Project in the province's key mineral resources intensive survey

But in Zhou Qi's opinion, this is far from enough. He said that the lack of leading talents is still the weak point of Guizhou in promoting "rich ore refined development". We should introduce and cultivate a batch of talents through platform construction to lay a solid talent foundation for the province to implement "rich ore refined development" and precise exploration.

Now, putting honor aside, Zhou Qi still likes to run in the wild.

Zhou Qi (fourth from the right in the front row) and the manganese mine team are at the Datangpo manganese mine field research base in Songtao

"It is my original intention to travel all over Qingshan to search for minerals and serve the country, and it is also my lifelong cause. I will continue to be guided by the strategic needs of the country and the province, make more high-level original achievements in the field of mineral resources, and strive to achieve new breakthroughs in strategic mineral resources exploration, so that the foundation for high-quality development is stronger and more stable." Zhou Qi said.

Guizhou Daily Tianyan News Reporter Yuan Hang

Edited by Luo Qiuhong

Second instance Shi Yunhua

Third instance: Yue Zhen