New perspectives on geological science and strategic thinking on geological work in the New Era

This paper is the result of geological survey engineering.

Objective This research aims to analyze the challenges and opportunities facing geological work in the new era, construct a new conceptual framework for geological work, and strive for its healthy, sustainable, and stable development.

Methods The research methodology is grounded in the logic of theory and practice, history and future, inheritance and innovation, and development and protection. It puts forth a new conceptual framework for geological science and analyzes its significance.

Results The new conceptual framework for geological science mainly includes: (1) Geological Great Foundation Perspective: Strengthening regional foundational geological surveys, enhancing national surveys on resources, environment, ecology, disasters, and spatial national conditions, and deepening the understanding of the Earth. (2) Geological Great Resource Perspective: Conducting comprehensive surveys, development, and protection of all geological elements to maximize the integrated benefits of various geological element resources. Energy and strategic minerals are the core geological resources, and geological work should give top priority to ensuring national energy and strategic mineral resource security. (3) Geological Great Ecology Perspective: Leveraging the role of geological work in promoting ecosystem stability and sustainability, addressing ecosystem issues, or maintaining ecosystem functionality. (4) Geological Great Data Perspective: Making full use of modern information technology to comprehensively realize the digital and intelligent transformation of geological work. (5) Geological Great System Perspective: Considering the Earth and the natural, social and economic systems as a whole in an integrated manner, maintaining the stability of the Earth system and sustainable development of human economy and society, and promoting the transformation of traditional geological science into Earth system science.

Conclusions In conclusion, based on the new conceptual framework, geological work in the new era should: Establish the Geological Great Foundation Perspective by enhancing foundational geological survey levels and deepening understanding of the Earth's development and evolution. Embrace the Geological Great Resource Perspective by consolidating traditional geological prospecting work, achieving significant breakthroughs in the new round of prospecting, and expanding into new domains of natural resource investigation and evaluation. Adopt the Geological Great Ecological Perspective by developing ecological geology and providing geological solutions for ecological restoration and protection. Implement the Geological Great Data Perspective by constructing a new paradigm for geological science research and providing intelligent geological solutions to societal needs. Promote the Geological Great System Perspective by developing and improving Earth system science, establishing a new generation of geological science knowledge systems.