Prospecting progress of Jiada lithium deposit in Ma'erkang City in the western Sichuan Province

Ke'ergin ore field is located in central Songpan-Ganzi orogenic belt, as a key rare metal ore concentration area in the western Sichuan Province. Due to historically limited geological work, most of the mineralization information has not been effectively verified. In recent years, Jiada lithium deposit in the northeastern part of this ore field was discovered. And more than 30 spodumene-bearing veins in Jiada mine area were discovered by continuous innovation and optimization of exploration methodologies, 1∶2 000 pegmatite float boulder mapping, high-density resistivity survey and lithium-tracing exploration. Preliminary drilling verification indicates Li₂O resources exceeding 220 000 t. The proposed exploration blocks were successful transferred, and significant public geological survey results were converting into economic value. The lateral extensions and deep exploration of Jiada mining area show promising potential for prospecting based on 2023-2024 advancements, and it's expected to newly discover a new super-large lithium deposit. These achievements could not only provide critical resource support for constructing the western Sichuan's lithium mining base, but also establish a benchmark for strategic mineral exploration in China's emerging industries.