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The hidden treasure of the Junggar Basin: How did it become China's third largest oil reserve?
Located in the Xinjiang region of northwest China, the Junggar Basin is rich in geological resources, especially in the area of oil extraction. The area's geological structure and environment created ideal conditions for the formation and accumulation of oil, allowing it to quickly become China's third largest oil reserve. As global energy demand continues to rise, it is particularly important to explore the potential of this region.
The Junggar Basin has experienced many crustal movements in history, which not only shaped its geomorphological features, but also buried a large amount of natural resources deep underground.
Geologists say that the geological composition of the Junggar Basin is mainly composed of sedimentary rocks, and the bottom is a basement composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The formation of this land can be traced back to the development of Pangaea, which underwent a series of complex tectonic events from the Precambrian to the late Paleozoic. The Junggar Basin can be viewed as a series of foreland basins that have evolved continuously since the Permian to the present day.
Due to the influence of volcanic activity and sedimentary deposits, the Junggar Basin is a treasure trove of geological resources, including well-developed oil, coal and mineral resources.
The geological environment in this area can effectively store oil because the sedimentary rock layers here are composed of early carbonate rocks and later sandstones. These rock layers have formed many structural traps under the influence of tectonic movements. , which promotes the accumulation of oil. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this is also considered the place that has been the longest away from the open ocean, with a distance of 2,648 kilometers to the nearest open ocean.
Regional tectonic setting of the Junggar Basin
The main tectonic components of the Junggar Basin can be divided into six parts, including five major areas formed by faults and flat subsidence. The thickness of sediments varies significantly in different areas, with the central depression zone reaching a thickness of up to five kilometers, covering multiple rock formations from the Carboniferous to the Quaternary. These diverse landforms and structures make the Junggar Basin occupy an important position in geological research.
Potential of geological resources
The Junggar Basin contains China's third-largest oil reserves, with about two-thirds of the oil coming from the Karamay-Urho ridge area. The oil here was mainly formed in deep-sea sedimentary rocks and lake sedimentary layers of the Paleozoic Era. After long-term tectonic movements, it gradually evolved into a resource that can be exploited today. In addition, there are huge coal reserves in the region, as well as various types of ore and metal resources that are closely related to tectonic evolution.
Experts estimate that the Junggar Basin has coal reserves of about 18 billion tons, mainly distributed in the Early to Middle Jurassic environment.
In terms of mineral resources, most of the various ores in the Junggar Basin, such as copper, gold, and iron, were formed during the geological process of the Paleozoic Era. The discovery of these mineral deposits is also a major driving force for the potential for local economic development.
Future development of the Junggar Basin
As countries around the world pay more attention to their energy issues, the development potential of the Junggar Basin has gradually attracted attention. Several scientific and technological studies and resource assessments are ongoing to gain a more complete understanding of the land’s geological features and its resource configuration. Investment by the government and related companies is the key to promoting future energy development in this region.
Against the backdrop of global climate change and energy transition, how to balance resource development and ecological environmental protection in the Junggar Basin is an important issue facing us today.
The Junggar Basin is not only a region rich in resources, but also a focus of attention in the geological and business communities. In the future, with the application of new technologies and improvements in mining methods, can we find a perfect balance between resource development and environmental protection?
