Mineral resources are an important material foundation for economic and social development, and the exploration and development of mineral resources are vital to national economic stability, people's livelihoods, and national security.

Recently, a reporter from CCTV’s Central Broadcasting Station learned from the China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Natural Resources that China’s new round of strategic actions to achieve breakthroughs in mineral exploration has yielded remarkable results: ten new oil fields with reserves exceeding 100 million tons each and 19 gas fields with reserves exceeding 100 billion cubic meters each have been discovered; ten large- and extra-large uranium deposits have been identified, significantly boosting uranium resource reserves; reserves of 12 mineral resources—including copper, gold, gallium, germanium, and indium—have increased substantially; and major breakthroughs have been made in the exploration of minerals crucial to strategic emerging industries, such as lithium, zirconium, hafnium, helium, and rare earth elements.

The CCTV reporter from the central station learned that, in the new round of strategic actions to achieve breakthroughs in mineral exploration, many large-scale mines have been newly discovered, and in particular, the newly identified reserves of minerals such as copper, aluminum, and lithium have increased significantly.

Tang Juxing, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, introduced that in the new round of mineral exploration breakthrough initiative, a tailored strategy will be adopted for each of the 36 mineral types. These include both bulk minerals such as oil, natural gas, coal, iron, and manganese, as well as strategic emerging minerals like lithium and rare earth elements.

“Copper ore is the most important ‘food’ for industry. Under the new round of strategic initiatives aimed at breakthroughs in mineral exploration, the country has added over 30 million tons of copper—equivalent to the total amount mined over the previous decade,” said Tang Juxing.

Moreover, major breakthroughs in the exploration of strategic emerging minerals such as lithium, zirconium, hafnium, helium, and rare earth elements provide robust resource support for ensuring the industrial chain and supply chain security of China’s emerging sectors, including new energy, new materials, and aerospace.

“From Jiamikang in Sichuan to Altyn in Xinjiang, we’ve established a lithium-mining belt stretching 3,000 kilometers. The resource reserves could range from 20 million to 30 million tons, ensuring that our lithium prices won’t be controlled by Western mining companies,” said Tang Juxing.

In the field of energy and mineral resources, China has discovered three large-scale deep coalbed methane fields—each with reserves exceeding 100 billion cubic meters—in the Ordos Basin, with proven geological reserves surpassing 500 billion cubic meters. Moreover, China has identified the world’s first ultra-deepwater, ultra-shallow-layer large-scale gas field, adding over 100 billion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves. As a result, China’s capacity for self-sufficiency in clean energy has significantly improved. From 2011 to 2020, China launched an initiative aimed at achieving breakthroughs in mineral exploration. According to relevant statistical data, during this round of exploration breakthroughs, newly discovered oil and natural gas resources totaled 10.1 billion tons and 6.85 trillion cubic meters, respectively. Additionally, 17 large oil fields each with reserves exceeding 100 million tons and 21 large gas fields each with reserves exceeding 100 billion cubic meters were discovered. New coal resources amounted to 526.8 billion tons, and nickel resources reached 3.49 million tons. Furthermore, 32 new non-oil and gas mineral resource bases have been established.

Although the previous round of mineral exploration breakthrough initiatives yielded abundant results, China still relies heavily on foreign sources for several critical mineral resources. In response, the Ministry of Natural Resources, together with relevant departments, has jointly launched a new round of mineral exploration breakthrough initiatives. These efforts will enhance China’s capacity to independently secure energy and resource supplies, thereby safeguarding national economic security and strategic needs.

Since the launch of the new round of strategic actions for breakthroughs in mineral exploration, various regions have focused on bulk, scarce, and strategic emerging-industry minerals, concentrating their efforts around key metallogenic belts and major oil- and gas-bearing basins. As a result, a series of significant mineral exploration breakthroughs have been achieved. The western region has added a new batch of energy-resource bases, while the resource foundations of established resource bases in central and eastern regions have been further strengthened. So, how can we identify mineable mineral resources?

First, identify prospective mining areas. In the western regions, large-scale surface observations can be conducted using satellite or airborne geophysical data and imagery to look for potential signs of mineralization. In eastern regions and other areas with dense vegetation, extensive sample collection is required, followed by laboratory chemical analysis to pinpoint areas with the highest concentrations of valuable elements. Once a promising deposit is identified, researchers will carry out field surveys and sampling—collecting core samples from selected priority areas for laboratory testing to develop a more detailed ore-body model. After obtaining exploration rights, mining companies will conduct even more precise surveys and economic evaluations of the discovered deposits, including cost-benefit analyses and market demand forecasts. Before commencing formal mining operations, a comprehensive environmental impact assessment must be completed, and mining rights must be secured before development can proceed.

Tang Juxing explained that it typically takes between 10 and 15 years—from the most basic geological surveys all the way to actual mining—to develop a single ore deposit. “In many regions, it takes the efforts of one, two, or even three generations to locate a mineral deposit before it can finally be developed by enterprises.”

After decades of continuous technological breakthroughs, China has successfully broken through foreign blockades and monopolies in the research and development of geophysical exploration technologies and equipment, developing a series of domestically produced instruments and equipment. As a result, China now possesses preliminary capabilities for comprehensive, multi-scale, and high-precision exploration across all regions. In particular, lightweight and miniaturized equipment can carry out precise exploration even in harsh environments, effectively addressing the longstanding challenge of “people and equipment being unable to reach” high-altitude areas. Moreover, China has made remarkable progress in remote sensing technology, satellite monitoring, and big data applications, providing robust data support for mineral resource exploration.