Regional geochemical exploration in China： from 1999 to 2009

Abstract：Regional geochemical exploration in China changed greatly from 1999 to 2009. Regional geochemical exploration methods and techniques as well as mineral resources potential assessment have been deliberately studied and remarkable progress has been achieved under the guidance of geochemical theory. The principle of regional geochemical exploration methods and techniques developed aims at demonstrating the primary state of geochemical distribution in the highest degree. Selection of sampling media suitable for landscape and surficial geochemical condition is the key problem for regional geochemical survey. Samples collected should reflect the information of geology and mineralization, and hence weathered material of rocks is usually selected as sampling media. Efforts have also been made to collect the same material over the whole country. The established methods for mineral resources potential assessment and quantitative mineralization prognosis based on the theory of geochemical zoning have promoted the exploration geochemistry from pure methods to a theoretical level for steering mineral prospecting. The main achievements are as follows: systematic methods and techniques of national regional geochemical exploration have been established; analytical process and its quality are strictly controlled; Several geochemical atlases have been published based on accurate geochemical data, which can exactly reveal geological setting and anomalous characteristics; regional geochemical data and its information have been studied profoundly and applied widely; the methodology system and working procedure from regional, reconnaissance to detailed exploration have been established for resource survey, assessment and prognosis. Regional geochemical exploration has been supporting mineral survey in China for a long period, acting as a forerunner of all geological work. It is certain that regional geochemical data will play an important role in new discovery, new understanding and new viewpoints of basic geology, mineralization regularity, and great geological events with the compilation of new geochemical maps covering various regions and the whole country. All this will have great influence on exploration geochemistry and geological work in China.