The present paper discusses the effectiveness of geochemical prospecting forgold and silver resources and some problems which are likely to occur in utili-zation of this technique.Abrief description is made in this paper on the results achieved in geoche-mical prospecting for gold and silver deposits from 1980 to 1985: 59 ore depositsor occurrences were detected during this period. It is indicated that, in search foroldg and silver deposits under the geographical and geological conditions ofChina, small-scale regional geochemical prospecting should first be carried out inorder that the target area can be reduced as soon as possible and the promisingarea wil1 be delineated. It is only on such a base that the reconnaissanceand detailed exploration will attain satisfactory ore-searching results and thereduction of ore prospecting period and expenses will be achieved. It alsodeals with the tasks assigned to various stages of geochemical prospecting suchas regional survey, reconnaissance and detailed exploration. At the stages of1:200, 000 regional survey and 1:50, 000 reconnaissance, stream sediment surveyis the main method to use; during the large-scale detailed exploration, however,the soi1 survey or rock survey shou1d be adopted. Adiscussion is given on tech-niques for combining samples during the reconnaissance and detailed exploration.In addition, this paper points out that it is essential for the geological partyresponsible for gold and silver prospecting to master the analytical technique oftrace gold and to form its own independent working capabilities.