Regional geochemistry of China: History, achievements and future
Xi Xiao-Huan1(), Dai Yi-Yun1, Wang Yong-Hua2, Miao Guo-Wen3, Zhuang Dao-Ze4, Chen Hui-Qiang5, Du Hai-Yan6, Tang Wen-Chun7, Wu Tian-Sheng8, Yan Xin-Hua9, Li Xu-Shan10, Li Li-Hui11, Kong Fan-Ji12, Zeng Ming-Zhong13, Li Ming-Hui14, Yang Yi15, Chen Xing-Shi16, Fu Hai-Tao17, Bai Rong-Jie18, Yao Lan19
1. China Geological Survey, Beijing 100037, China 2. Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610218, China 3. The Fifth Geological Exploration Institute of Qinghai Province, Xining 810000, China 4. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Bureau of Geology, Mineral Resources Exploration and Development, Urumqi 830000, China 5. Tibet Autonomous Region Bureau of Geology, Mineral Resources Exploration and Development, Lhasa 850000, China 6. Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Guangzhou 510080, China 7. Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chengdu 610081, China 8. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Geological Survey, Nanning 530023, China 9. Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Brigade, Jiangxi Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Nanchang 330201, China 10. Gansu Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Lanzhou 730000, China 11. Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Kunming 650011, China 12. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Geological Survey, Hohhot 010020, China 13. Hubei Geological Survey, Wuhan 430030, China 14. Anhui Geological Survey, Hefei 230001, China 15. Hainan Geological Survey, Haikou 570206, China 16. Heilongjiang Geological Survey, Harbin 150036, China 17. Liaoning Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Shenyang 110032, China 18. Jilin Geological Survey, Changchun 130061, China 19. Hubei Institute of Geological Experiment and Testing, Wuhan 430030, China
China's complicated geological background and metallogenic environment have decided that the regional geochemical exploration can play an important role in the field of China's mineral resources prospecting. This is the strategic selection under special metallogenic conditions. The first round of regional geochemical exploration of China was carried out during mid-1950s. Since then, we carried out the second and third round of regional geochemical exploration. Until now, China's regional geochemical exploration has gone through a history of 70 years, and showed unique functions in fields of the exploration and development of nonferrous metals, precious metals as well as the rare minerals, rare earth and scattered minerals. According to incomplete statistics, during 36 years (1979~2015) of the second and third round of regional geochemical exploration, totally 182 different kinds of large to super-large scale deposits were discovered in China mainly by means of regional geochemical exploration. Of which, 61 deposits have nonferrous metals, 93 deposits have precious metals, 24 deposits have critical and scarce minerals, and 4 deposits have other kinds of minerals. On average, 5.06 large to super-large deposits were discovered each year, and one large to super-large deposit was discovered within every 37,000 square kilometers-Calculated on the basis that the second and third round of regional geochemical exploration covered 6.68 million square kilometers' area of China. Regional geochemical exploration has achieved outstanding results in the field of mineral prospecting, and made great contributions in terms of ensuring and promoting China's economic development. As our country's basic, public good and strategic geological work, regional geochemical exploration comes into the 21st century marked by big data and earth system science. Based on high precision and good quality big data, guided by metallogenic geochemical theories, and supported by modern science and technology, the regional geochemical exploration will start a new period of development. In the future, we'll continue to carry out the high technical standard and high quality regional geochemical exploration, achieve our goal of complete covering the whole area of mainland China with regional geochemical exploration, and provide more strategic prospective areas for our country's mineral resources exploration. On the basis of high-precision big data, metallogenic theories and modern science and technology, we'll establish AI and IT application system, so as to push forward the exploration and utilization of deep minerals, buried deposits as well as the critical and scarce minerals which are difficult to identify, and achieve greater breakthroughs in the geological exploration of mineral resources. By using big data technics, China's regional geochemical exploration team will continuously solve the mineral resources exploration and evaluation problems, and in this process, our geochemical exploration system will be gradually integrated into our country's science and technology advancement.
奚小环, 戴意蕴, 王永华, 苗国文, 庄道泽, 陈惠强, 杜海燕, 唐文春, 吴天生, 鄢新华, 李绪善, 李丽辉, 孔凡吉, 曾明中, 李明辉, 杨奕, 陈行时, 付海涛, 白荣杰, 姚岚. 中国区域化探:历史、成就与未来[J]. 物探与化探, 2025, 49(5): 989-1007.
Xi Xiao-Huan, Dai Yi-Yun, Wang Yong-Hua, Miao Guo-Wen, Zhuang Dao-Ze, Chen Hui-Qiang, Du Hai-Yan, Tang Wen-Chun, Wu Tian-Sheng, Yan Xin-Hua, Li Xu-Shan, Li Li-Hui, Kong Fan-Ji, Zeng Ming-Zhong, Li Ming-Hui, Yang Yi, Chen Xing-Shi, Fu Hai-Tao, Bai Rong-Jie, Yao Lan. Regional geochemistry of China: History, achievements and future. Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, 2025, 49(5): 989-1007.
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