General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the security of the nation’s energy and resource supplies, emphasizing that “mineral resources are an essential material foundation for economic and social development, and the exploration and development of mineral resources are vital to the national economy, people’s livelihoods, and national security.” The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China explicitly called for improving the national security system, enhancing the capacity to safeguard national security, and ensuring the security of food, energy resources, and critical industrial and supply chains. Under the leadership of Comrade Xi Jinping, the Party Central Committee has repeatedly made arrangements to ensure energy and resource security, clearly requiring the implementation of a new round of strategic actions aimed at breakthroughs in mineral exploration. The Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, has consistently followed the guiding principle set forth by the Party Group of the China Geological Survey—“fully supporting the security guarantees of energy, minerals, water, food, and other strategic resources, and meticulously serving the construction of ecological civilization and the central tasks of natural resource management”—and has carried out solid research and investigation work on karst geology. In the new round of strategic actions for mineral exploration breakthroughs, the Institute has bravely shouldered its mission and achieved new accomplishments.
　　I. Overview of Resources and Energy in Karst Regions
　　In karst regions, sedimentary deposits are abundant in both quantity and quality, with a relatively concentrated geographic distribution. Low-temperature hydrothermal deposits exhibit distinctive characteristics, and there are numerous co- or associated mineral resources. The potential for deep exploration is immense, and nonferrous metal deposits stand out as particularly advantageous. During the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans, China established a total of 141 integrated mineral resource exploration zones and 103 energy resource bases. Among these, 32 integrated exploration zones and 23 metallic mineral resource bases are located in the southwestern karst region. Karst mineral deposits display complex and diverse types, with extremely rich mineral resources—over 170 mineral species have been identified, including energy minerals such as coal, natural gas, and shale gas; metallic minerals such as rare earth elements, manganese, aluminum, gold, antimony, lead, and zinc; and nonmetallic minerals such as phosphorus and barite. A number of world-class deposits, such as the Pingguo bauxite deposit in Guangxi and the Tongren manganese deposit in Guizhou, have emerged from this region, placing it in a crucial position for ensuring national resource security.
　　Carbonate rocks are important oil reservoir rocks; globally, about 50% of oil and natural gas reserves are stored in carbonate rocks. In particular, many large and ultra-large oil-and-gas fields in the Middle East, North America, and Russia are closely associated with carbonate rocks. In China, a number of large carbonate-rock oil-and-gas fields have been discovered in regions such as the Tarim Basin, the Ordos Basin, and the Sichuan Basin. As a result, exploration for carbonate rocks has become a key area driving the growth of oil and gas reserves and production. Meanwhile, carbonate-rock thermal storage systems represent the most significant non-volcanic geothermal storage systems, primarily found in rift basins and sag basins—including the Ordos Basin, the North China and Northern Jiangsu basins, and the Sichuan Basin—making them of great importance in promoting the development and utilization of geothermal resources.
　　II. Geological Survey of Karst Areas Supporting Mineral Exploration Achievements
　　(1) The level of basic geological surveys in karst regions continues to improve.
　　Based in the vast karst regions, the Karst Research Institute continuously advances basic geological surveys. To date, it has completed regional geological surveys covering 23 1:50,000-scale map sheets in karst areas including the Hengduan Mountains, the Wumeng Mountains, and the Tai-Pen transitional zone in northeastern Guangxi—areas that together cover a working area of over 10,000 square kilometers. These surveys have yielded abundant results in terms of regional geological investigation and understanding China’s national conditions regarding resources and the environment, and have accumulated a wealth of foundational data to support the deployment of a new round of strategic initiatives aimed at breakthroughs in mineral exploration in karst regions.
　　(2) Significant progress has been made in achieving breakthroughs in the exploration and discovery of energy resources such as oil and gas, shale gas, and geothermal energy.
　　The Institute of Karst Geology has been actively engaged in geological surveys and research on paleokarst reservoirs for oil and gas, shale gas, and geothermal reservoirs. It has achieved innovative results in areas such as the study of development patterns and evolutionary characteristics of carbonate karst reservoirs in oil- and gas-bearing basins including the Sichuan Basin and the Tarim Basin; reconstruction and characterization of paleokarst landforms and ancient drainage systems; and elucidation of the genesis mechanisms and prediction of karst reservoirs. Moreover, new progress has been made in understanding the distribution patterns and genesis mechanisms of ultra-deep fault-controlled fracture-cave karst reservoirs, providing crucial support for the design of high-productivity well locations. The institute has established a solid working foundation in areas such as the selection of prospective, favorable, and exploration blocks for shale gas in the southwestern margin of the Xuefeng Uplift, shale gas resource evaluation, and the complex karst regions within the Guizhong Depression. It has preliminarily developed a systematic methodology for predicting sweet spots in shale gas within complex karst regions and has made significant discoveries of multi-layered Sinian-Cambrian shale gas resources along the southwestern margin of the Xuefeng Uplift. The institute has also clarified the formation and filling evolution mechanisms of karst thermal reservoir fractures and caves in the Xiong’an New Area, established four geological models for the formation of karst thermal reservoirs, defined the characteristics of their formation and distribution, delineated three types of karst reservoir spaces, completed vertical zoning and favorable zone predictions for karst thermal reservoirs, and effectively guided exploration and evaluation of karst thermal reservoirs in the Xiong’an New Area. Furthermore, the institute has developed a series of survey and evaluation techniques—including methods for deep karst prediction and assessment of preservation conditions—that can provide strong technical support for the next round of mineral exploration breakthroughs.
　　(3) Significant achievements have been made in ensuring water resources and protecting the ecological environment in key mineral concentration areas.
　　For a long time, the Karst Research Institute has been actively engaged in hydrogeological and environmental geological surveys and research on karst mines. In such national integrated energy bases as the Southwest Karst Region, Shanxi Province, and the Ordos Basin, the institute has conducted effective surveys, assessments, and fundamental theoretical studies on topics including water supply security, the environmental impacts of old mine workings and their associated groundwater on karst groundwater systems, ecological restoration strategies, the effects of mineral exploitation on the flow and quality of major karst springs, and the formulation of ecological recharge plans. These efforts have helped identify the key ecological and environmental geological issues in mining areas and led to the development of the "Technical Guidelines for Survey and Assessment of Basic Environmental Conditions of Groundwater in Karst Regions." Furthermore, a preliminary technical system for hydrogeological surveys and assessments supporting mineral exploration, green mine construction, and ecological restoration of mining areas has been established. This system can provide robust foundational support for the next round of mineral exploration breakthroughs and mineral development initiatives.
　　III. Karst Geological Work Supports the Vision for a New Round of Mineral Exploration
　　In accordance with the overall deployment of the new round of strategic actions for breakthroughs in mineral exploration, focusing on typical karst regions, we propose ideas for leveraging karst geology to support the new round of mineral exploration breakthroughs.
　　First, we will focus on key mineralization belts in karst regions and carry out basic geological surveys and research. Centered on key karst mineralization belts such as carbonate-type manganese deposits, sedimentary bauxite deposits, and Carlin-type gold deposits, we will tailor regional geological survey efforts in karst areas to local conditions. This will enhance the level of 1:50,000-scale basic geological surveys and improve our understanding of the national geological situation in karst regions, providing foundational data support for the next round of strategic initiatives aimed at achieving breakthroughs in mineral exploration in these areas.
　　Second, we will continue to strengthen research on the development characteristics of deep karst reservoirs in major oil- and gas-bearing basins. We will conduct studies on the patterns of carbonate rock karst reservoir development and reservoir prediction in large sedimentary basins such as the Tarim Basin, the Sichuan Basin, and the Ordos Basin. These efforts will specifically address key challenges—such as the unclear understanding of reservoir formation mechanisms and the primary controlling factors—in the exploration and development of carbonate rock oil and gas fields, thereby guiding reservoir prediction and contributing to the increase in oil and gas reserves and production.
　　Third, continue conducting karst prediction and shale gas exploration and evaluation in the complex structural areas of southern China. Building on previous discoveries and indications of shale gas across multiple strata, further strengthen basic geological surveys for shale gas along the southwestern margin of the Xuefeng Uplift and in the Guizhong Depression. Carry out comprehensive surveys and evaluations covering basin geological structures, geological conditions and resource assessments for shale gas, karst geological conditions of the top and bottom formations of the target shale gas layers, and preservation conditions of the target shale gas layers. Identify prospective areas, prioritize favorable zones, deploy large-diameter geological exploration wells or parameter wells, assess resource potential, and submit exploration block data packages. Leverage the advantages of various deep-earth geophysical exploration techniques—such as the wide-area electromagnetic method employed by the Karst Research Institute—to optimally select shale gas exploration targets and support the exploration and development of shale gas in the complex structural regions of southern China.
　　Fourth, conduct surveys and evaluations of geothermal resources in typical karst regions. Leveraging modern exploration technologies, identify the structural types of karst thermal reservoirs, reveal the mechanisms behind the formation and evolution of deep-seated karst thermal reservoirs, establish models for the genesis and occurrence of geothermal resources, and delineate favorable target areas for geothermal resource exploration. Further refine the combination of technical methods for exploring deep-seated karst thermal reservoir structures, develop geothermal resource exploration and evaluation techniques that can be widely applied, and provide technical support for the development and utilization of deep geothermal resources.
　　Fifth, conduct hydrogeological and environmental geological surveys in key mineral concentration areas to enhance the capacity for ensuring water resources and water security in mining development. Addressing challenges such as inadequate water resource guarantees and difficulties in efficiently utilizing water resources in some mines, we will carry out comprehensive hydrogeological and environmental geological surveys in key mineral areas to improve the ability to secure water resources for mining activities in these regions. For areas rich in water resources, we will conduct in-depth analyses of the impacts of mining activities on the geological and hydrological environments in karst mineral concentration zones, forecast the likelihood and magnitude of sudden water bursts during mining operations, and develop technologies for preventing and controlling mine water bursts, draining regional aquifers, and optimizing the utilization of mine water resources—thereby providing robust safeguards for high-quality mine operations.
　　Sixth, conduct research and surveys on geological safety assurance in key mineral concentration areas and ecological restoration of abandoned mines. Addressing issues such as soil and water erosion, land degradation, disruption of aquifer structures, ground subsidence in mining areas, cessation of flow in large karst springs, and contamination of agricultural soils and surface and groundwater around mining regions—resulting from mining activities in certain areas—focus on developing and demonstrating key technologies for geological safety assurance and ecological restoration in karst mineral concentration zones. Establish technical systems for safe monitoring and early warning of groundwater in karst mines and for ecological protection, as well as emergency response technologies for ground subsidence and groundwater contamination incidents, thereby supporting the construction of green mines in mineral concentration zones and the ecological restoration of territorial space.
　　The Karst Research Institute will deeply grasp the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, resolutely implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and directives on geological work, as well as the spirit of his important reply to all geologists of the Sixth Geological Brigade of the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, and fully carry out the deployment requirements of the Party Group of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Party Group of the China Geological Survey regarding the new round of strategic actions for breakthroughs in mineral exploration. We will forge ahead with determination and work diligently and practically, leveraging our specialized technical strengths in karst geology to conduct solid work in areas such as basic geological surveys in carbonate rock regions, exploration for oil, gas, and shale gas, research on the mechanisms of deep karst reservoirs, hydrogeological and environmental geological surveys of key mineral concentration zones, and ecological restoration of abandoned mines. We will achieve breakthroughs in critical core technologies and contribute the strength of karst geology to the nation’s new round of strategic actions for mineral exploration breakthroughs and mineral resource development.