This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering.

Objective China is a major country in terms of phosphate resources and major consumer. In 2016, phosphorus ore was included in the Catalogue of Key Mineral Resources in China. With the increasing demand for phosphorus fertilizer and the depletion of resources in more and more mines, it is urgently necessary to enhance geological prospecting and exploration development of phosphate resources. The study of mineralization regularities serves as an important foundation for resource exploration and development.

Methods Building upon previous research, this article further analyzes and summarizes the current status of phosphate development and utilization, types of deposits, spatiotemporal distribution patterns, and prospecting directions in China. It provides a preliminary summary of the mineralization regularities and key prospecting directions for phosphorus ore in China.

Results China possesses abundant phosphate resources, but their distribution is highly uneven, primarily concentrated in four provinces: Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei. Based on the types of mineralization processes, Chinese phosphate can be classified into five categories: magmatic rock−type, metamorphic−type, sedimentary−type, secondary−type, and guano−type deposits. The mineralization epochs of phosphate in China are extensive, with the major phosphate−bearing periods being the Meishucun period of the Cambrian, the Duoshantuo period of the Late Ediacaran, and the Jinping period of the Paleoproterozoic. According to the "Division Scheme of Metallogenic Belts in China," Chinese phosphate can be divided into 27 third−level metallogenic belts and four metallogenic sub−belts. Among them, the Dianzhong−Southwestern Sichuan Metallogenic Belt, the Daba Mountains−Western Hubei Metallogenic Belt, and the Xiang−Qian Metallogenic Belt are the main phosphate metallogenic belts in China. Important prospecting areas include Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, Western Hubei, and some regions in northern China. Southern phosphate resources are mainly sedimentary−type deposits, while northern phosphate resources are predominantly magmatic rock−type deposits, primarily distributed in Hebei and Xinjiang provinces.

Conclusions Phosphorus is crucial for agricultural food security, as well as for important industries such as new energy and healthcare. As a populous nation, China has a significant demand for phosphorus chemicals. In the face of uneven distribution of phosphate and issues related to excessive mining, it is necessary to strengthen the investigation and research on phosphate resources, as well as study the efficient comprehensive utilization of these resources. This will ensure the stable supply of domestic phosphorus products and environmental safety, while promoting the sustainable development of resources.