The present paper reviews the advances in research and production work exploration geochemistry gained by Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources over the past thirty years, especially during the recent years. It deals with such aspects as effectiveness of geochemical prospecting for mineral deposits, regional geochemical exploration, geochemical survey in metallogenic belts, geochemical prospecting in mining areas, standard geochemical reference samples, analytical devices and methods for geochemical prospecting and mercury vapor survey. Marked progress has been made in the field of geochemical exploration in the past five years, as evidenced by the detection of not only more quantities but also more types of ore deposits and ore occurrences than ever before, with the discovery of 24 gold deposits or occurrences as the most convincing example. The progress in designing an integrated plan for analysis of multiple elements in regional geochemical samples and its role in geochemical prospecting have been emphatically elucidated. The available data fully show that, as a useful direct ore-detection method, geochemical prospecting widens geologists' visual field, enables them to search for ore at greater depths, and is therefore surely to play an increasingly important role in geological work in the days to come.