Support bases make life easier for field geophysical workers

The working and living conditions for geological field operations in China have significantly improved in recent years, transforming what was once a "helpless" situation for many geological workers in remote areas.

"After long days in the field, we can now take hot showers, completely shedding the dusty and grimy image once associated with geophysical fieldwork," said Wang Kai, deputy project leader of the geophysical survey in the salt lake area of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai province.

Since 2012, Wang has participated in over 10 geological survey projects, spending nearly 25 months on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. When he first worked in the uninhabited areas of the Xizang autonomous region, the team lived in tents that often collapsed under heavy snow and leaked from all sides, as Wang recalled. "Even indoors, we had to sleep in sleeping bags and be covered with heavy quilts," he said.

"Our faces and bodies were covered in dust when we woke up in the morning," Wang added.

Geological survey work is often carried out in remote and harsh environments such as plateaus, high mountains, permafrost zones, and deserts.

"In the past, geological workers conducting field surveys in these areas had to fend for themselves, often without proper protection, which put their health and safety at risk," said Huang Chengwei, deputy director of the China Geological Survey's field base support program.

To address these challenges, the China Geological Survey has, in recent years, established comprehensive field support bases in locations such as Lhasa in Xizang, Xining in Qinghai province, and Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Different models, including container camps, vehicle-mounted camps, fixed camps and tent camps, have been introduced to set up field support stations and units tailored to diverse regional environments and operational needs, Huang said.

According to Huang, workers stationed at these bases now have access to reliable oxygen supplies, warm and comfortable living quarters, clean drinking water, and specialized safety training and monitoring. "The one-stop support service has ended the era when geological workers had to 'work alone with no support' in the field," Huang said. "It has improved both work efficiency and safety."

During a geophysical survey project earlier this year, Wang's team of more than 60 members was stationed at the Dalangtan field support base in Qinghai, which features accommodation areas, offices, a cafeteria, showers and storage facilities.

"The base is well-organized and spacious," Wang said, noting that dedicated chefs and maintenance staff provide daily logistical support. "With such comprehensive support, we can focus entirely on our fieldwork without worries."

Back in 2023, while working in the Qarhan zone in Qinghai, Wang's team lived in simple containers that swayed in strong winds and had poor insulation. "Now, in the modernized camp, I can shower and rest well after a long day's work, which helps me start the next day refreshed," he said.

Zhang Xiaoxing, who is leading a gold mine survey project in Xinjiang from 2023 to 2025, shared similar experiences. Before 2024, his team relied on tents in the field. "Because of the poor living conditions, once temperatures soared in July and August, it became impossible to continue operations, and the project had to be suspended," Zhang said.

This year, Zhang's team moved into mobile prefab houses at the Turpan field support camp in Xinjiang. The new units are equipped with air coolers, office furniture, and other facilities, greatly improving both comfort and work efficiency. "Monitoring equipment installed on the prefab houses also helps ensure the safety of our supplies and equipment, especially with wildlife roaming nearby," he added.

Thanks to the improved support in the field, geological workers have gained a greater sense of honor and fulfillment, Huang said.