Exploration Of Mineral Resources Research Articles

Development Strategy of Quantum-Based Deep Geophysical Exploration Technology and Equipment

Quantum-based sensing and measurement technology is a disruptive technology that can realize fine detection of the gravity and magnetic fields in deep Earth, and it has become a key development direction for geophysical exploration equipment worldwide. This study focuses on the frontier technologies for the quantum-based high-precision measurement of Earth’s gravity and magnetic fields, summarizes the development status of quantum-based geophysical exploration equipment, and analyzes demand for the superconducting quantum-based electromagnetic detection system, magnetic vector gradient detection system, superconducting gravity detection system, and cold-atom absolute-gravity exploration system during deep resource exploration. Moreover, the international trend of quantum-based high-precision measurement technology as well as the development opportunities and challenges in this field are analyzed. To improve the core technology research, complete localization, and exploration application of quantum-based geophysical exploration equipment in China, we propose the development goals, technical system, key tasks, and strategic planning for a new generation of quantum-based high-precision deep geophysical exploration equipment. This aims to achieve breakthroughs in superconducting quantum chips and high-sensitivity sensors, establish a collaboration model for the independent development of China’s quantum-based geophysical exploration equipment, promote the high-quality development of deep exploration equipment, and provide strategic support for solving major problems associated with deep mineral resource exploration and revealing of Earth’s deep structure.

Meteorite impact craters as hotspots for mineral resources and energy fuels: A global review

The ever-increasing recovery rate of natural resources from terrestrial impact craters over the last few decades across the globe offers new avenues for further exploration of mineral and hydrocarbon resources in such settings. As of today, 60 of the 208 terrestrial craters have been identified to host diverse resources such as hydrocarbons, metals and construction materials. The potential of craters as plausible resource contributors to the energy sector is therefore, worthy of consideration, as 42 (70%) of the 60 craters host energy resources such as oil, gas, coal, uranium, mercury, critical and major minerals as well as hydropower resources. Among others, 19 craters are of well-developed hydrocarbon reserves. Mineral deposits associated with craters are also classified similar to other mineral resources such as progenetic, syngenetic and epigenetic sources. Of these, the progenetic and syngenetic mineralization are confined to the early and late excavation stage of impact crater evolution, respectively, whereas epigenetic deposits are formed during and after the modification stage of crater formation. Thus, progenetic and syngenetic mineral deposits (like Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cu) associated with craters are formed as a direct result of the impact event, whereas epigenetic deposits (e.g. hydrocarbon) are hosted by the impact structure and result from post-impact processes. In the progenetic and syngenetic deposits, the shock-wave induced fracturing and melting aid the formation of deposits, whereas in the epigenetic deposits, the highly fractured lithostratigraphic units of higher porosity and permeability, like the central elevated area (CEA) or the rim, act as traps. In this review, we provide a holistic view of the mineral and energy resources associated with impact craters, and use some of the remote sensing techniques to identify the mineral deposits as supplemented by a schematic model of the types of deposits formed during cratering process.

Design of Rock Sample Classification and Recognition Technology Based on Deep Learning

In oil and gas exploration and mineral resource exploration, rock sample identification plays an immeasurable role due to its strong operability. Besides the methods of identifying rock samples by gravity, magnetism, remote sensing, electromagnetics, etc. a new way is to establish an automatic identification and classification model of rock samples by using image deep learning methods. This paper uses the transfer learning method to build a deep convolutional neural network model to realize the automatic classification and recognition of rock samples. First, the original data is preprocessed to ensure that it can be better used for model training. Then, based on the deep learning tool framework TensorFlow, this article uses the transfer learning method to migrate the Inception-V3 deep convolutional neural network model. To be trained in the preprocessed target data set, and improve the learning effect of the target task, so that more reasonable image features can be extracted, until it is trained into a neural network model in the target field, and the rock sample can be better classified.

Synergy of Remote Sensing Data for Exploring Hydrothermal Mineral Resources Using GIS-Based Fuzzy Logic Approach

The Arabian Nubian Shield (ANS) contains a variety of gold deposits in the form of veins and veinlets formed by hydrothermal fluids. Characterizing potential areas of hydrothermal alteration zones therefore provides a significant tool for prospecting for hydrothermal gold deposits. In this study, we develop a model of exploration for hydrothermal mineral resources in an area located in the ANS, Egypt, using multiple criteria derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Landsat-Operational Land Imager (OLI), and Sentinel-2 data and field work through GIS-based fuzzy logic approach. The hydrothermal alteration zones (HAZs) map extracted from combining mineral indices, spectral bands, and ratios is consistent with observed argillic alteration zones around the mineralized veins. Combining HAZs and lineament density led to identification of six zones based on their mineralization potential, and provides a tool for successful reconnaissance prospecting for future hydrothermal mineral deposits. The detected zones are labeled as excellent, very high, high, moderate, low, and very low, based on their potential for Au production, and the predictive excellent and very high zones cover about 1.6% of the study area. This model also shows that target prospective zones are quartz veins controlled by NNW-SSE trending fracture/fault zones all crosscutting Precambrian rocks of the ANS. Field observations and petrographic and X-ray diffraction analyses were performed to validate the mineral prospective map and revealed that quartz veins consist of gold–sulfide mineralization (e.g., gold, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite). Consistency between the high potential hydrothermal alterations zones (HAZs) and the location of gold mineralization is achieved.

Integration of ASTER satellite imagery and 3D inversion of aeromagnetic data for deep mineral exploration

Due to high metal values and raised difficulties in finding superficial deposits, the exploration for mineral resources needs to reach greater depths. To achieve this objective, integrating ASTER and 3D inversion of aeromagnetic can be a useful tool in imaging deep magnetic mineralization hosting-structures. In this study, we present such integrated approach for deep mineral exploration in some promising zones of Gabal (G) Semna region, Eastern Desert (ED) of Egypt. Aeromagnetic data was used to delineate the structures and their relation to ore deposits and ASTER data was utilized for mapping lithological units and the hydrothermal zones. The 3D inversion was employed to imagine the depth and geometry of the magnetized ore bodies in the zones that identified by processing ASTER data. The 3D magnetic inversion revealed that mafic rocks and metavolcanics exhibit high-amplitude magnetic anomalies. High amplitude (positive) magnetic anomalies are joined with the large susceptibilities metavolcanics. Alteration zones in the mafic to basic bedrock and alongside major fault systems are high potential zones that revealed by ASTER image analysis. Aster and aeromagnetic data were used to map and alteration zones surface geology that can host mineralization and the 3D inversion was applied to outline the subsurface extent of these promising areas. This approach can be broadly used for deep mineral exploration in the Egyptian ED and identical areas around the world.

Deep Learning 3D Sparse Inversion of Gravity Data

AbstractGravity prospecting is an important geophysical method for mineral resource exploration and investigating crustal structures. Based on the importance of this method, we propose a novel method that takes advantage of rock data, using a supervised deep fully convolutional neural network, that generates a sparse subsurface distribution from gravity data. During the data preparation phase, we used the random walk to synthesize diverse geological models, in which each model element has only two choices. During network training, we feed the geological model as labels and their corresponding forward modeling of gravity data as the input, after which the network parameters are learned using the Dice coefficient. During network testing, six general types of 3D models were developed, and corresponding gravity data was entered into a trained network to achieve the prediction results in less time. The statistical analysis of two evaluation metrics showed that our network was highly effective using our proposed data set, wherein the recovered models were characterized by distinct boundaries. Furthermore, our approach was validated using real data obtained from the San Nicolas deposit in central Mexico.

Potential impacts of polymetallic nodule removal on deep-sea meiofauna

Deep seabed mining is potentially imminent in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ; northeast Pacific). Seabed collectors will remove polymetallic nodules and the surrounding surface sediments, both inhabited by meiofauna, along their path. To determine potential impacts of polymetallic nodule removal, we investigated the importance of nodule presence for the abundance, composition and diversity of sediment meiofauna, and evaluated the existence and composition of nodule crevice meiofauna in the Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR) exploration contract area. Nodule-free and nodule-rich sediments displayed high biodiversity with many singletons and doubletons, potentially representing rare taxa. Nodule presence negatively influenced sediment meiofaunal abundances but did not markedly affect taxonomic composition or diversity. This is the first report on CCFZ nodule crevice meiofauna, whose abundance related positively to nodule dimensions. Though dominated by the same taxa, nodules and sediments differed regarding the taxonomic and trophic composition of the meio- and nematofauna. Nevertheless, there were no taxa endemic to the nodule crevices and nodule crevice meiofauna added only little to total small-scale (~ cm) meiofaunal abundance and diversity. We formulated environmental management recommendations at the contract area and regional (CCFZ) scale related to sampling effort, set-aside preservation and monitoring areas, and potential rehabilitation measures.

Comparative Research on Noise Reduction of Transient Electromagnetic Signals Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition and Variational Mode Decomposition

AbstractTransient electromagnetic (TEM) detection has been widely used in the fields of mineral resources exploration, hydrogeological survey and engineering survey, but electromagnetic interference can lead to late signal distortion, so it has become an urgent problem to suppress the electromagnetic noise of TEM signal and improve the interpretation accuracy of TEM signal. For the first time, this paper introduces the approach of variational mode decomposition (VMD) into the field of TEM signal‐noise reduction. The half homogeneous space model and the three‐layer earth model were constructed to compare the noise reduction effect of the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) approach and the VMD approach on the three main noises (random noise, power frequency noise, and sferics noise) in the TEM signal. The results are compared with the wavelet threshold denoising approach to verify the superiority of the VMD approach relative to the EMD approach. The results show that the VMD approach is better than the decomposition result of the EMD approach in the signal‐noise separation of TEM signals. In addition, the VMD approach is applied to the measured TEM data in a region in southern Shanxi Province, which effectively improves the quality of TEM signals. This indicates that the VMD approach is expected to be used for signal interference suppression in the field of TEM detection in the future.

The two-year deadline to complete the International Seabed Authority’s Mining Code: Key outstanding matters that still need to be resolved

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) to organize and control the exploration for and exploitation of seabed mineral resources in areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. A system for exploration of mineral resources have been in existence for some time now and the ISA is currently in the midst of developing regulations for exploitation activities. Between 2014 and 2020, the ISA has made considerable progress in respect of the latter. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the work of the ISA, including the development of regulations for exploitation, have been on hiatus since March 2020. In late June 2021, the Republic of Nauru invoked a legal provision that essentially compels the ISA to accelerate the completion of the exploitation regulations. If the ISA fails to complete this within the prescribed time of two years, i.e. by July 2023, the ISA would have to consider and decide upon applications for mining contracts notwithstanding the absence of the exploitation regulations. Two years is not a long period, especially given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prevent member States from meeting in person at the ISA to continue negotiations on the exploitation regulations. Moreover, apart from having to resolve outstanding matters in relation to the exploitation regulations, the ISA would also need to address numerous other matters that intrinsically connect to the design of a functional system of exploitation. This paper reflects upon the key outstanding matters, both within and outside the exploitation regulations, which the ISA would need to urgently address and resolve within the two-year deadline.

Three-Dimensional Inversion of Borehole-Surface Resistivity Method Based on the Unstructured Finite Element

The electromagnetic wave signal from the electromagnetic field source generates induction signals after reaching the target geological body through the underground medium. The time and spatial distribution rules of the artificial or the natural electromagnetic fields are obtained for the exploration of mineral resources of the subsurface and determining the geological structure of the subsurface to solve the geological problems. The goal of electromagnetic data processing is to suppress the noise and improve the signal-to-noise ratio and the inversion of resistivity data. Inversion has always been the focus of research in the field of electromagnetic methods. In this paper, the three-dimensional borehole-surface resistivity method is explored based on the principle of geometric sounding, and the three-dimensional inversion algorithm of the borehole-surface resistivity method in arbitrary surface topography is proposed. The forward simulation and calculation start from the partial differential equation and the boundary conditions of the total potential of the three-dimensional point current source field are satisfied. Then the unstructured tetrahedral grids are used to discretely subdivide the calculation area that can well fit the complex structure of subsurface and undulating surface topography. The accuracy of the numerical solution is low due to the rapid attenuation of the electric field at the point current source and the nearby positions and sharply varying potential gradients. Therefore, the mesh density is defined at the local area, that is, the vicinity of the source electrode and the measuring electrode. The mesh refinement can effectively reduce the influence of the source point and its vicinity and improve the accuracy of the numerical solution. The stiffness matrix is stored with Compressed Row Storage (CSR) format, and the final large linear equations are solved using the Super Symmetric Over Relaxation Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (SSOR-PCG) method. The quasi-Newton method with limited memory (L_BFGS) is used to optimize the objective function in the inversion calculation, and a double-loop recursive method is used to solve the normal equation obtained at each iteration in order to avoid computing and storing the sensitivity matrix explicitly and reduce the amount of calculation. The comprehensive application of the above methods makes the 3D inversion algorithm efficient, accurate, and stable. The three-dimensional inversion test is performed on the synthetic data of multiple theoretical geoelectric models with topography (a single anomaly model under valley and a single anomaly model under mountain) to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Geological structure of central Vietnam by interpretation processing of gravitational survey data using the “COSCAD 3D” computer technology

Background. The central regions of Vietnam are of strategic importance for the Republic, being, in fact, the gateway to the ASEAN countries. Investing in the exploration and evaluation of mineral resources, in particular ore minerals hidden at great depths, is a specific and necessary task for the country.Aim. To clarify the structural-tectonic scheme of the analysed area and to identify the main fault systems and zoning of the Central Vietnam area by the gravitational field based on classification algorithms.Materials and methods. The objectives were achieved by assessing the total gradient of the gravitational field, analysing the distribution of the field variance and the results of tracing the axes of the gravitational field anomaly. Interpretation processing of gravity data was carried out using the “COSCAD 3D” computer technology of statistical and spectral correlation data analysis.Results. The defined fault systems, which play an important role in the processes of mineral formation, have a northwestern, northeastern and latitudinal strike. The zoning of the study area according to the gravitational field, its characteristics and available geological information made it possible to identify 13 homogeneous areas. Each area is characterised by a certain level of gravitational field, the values of dispersion and total field gradient, as well as correlations between attributes. The classification results confirms the complexity of the geological structure of the area under study and the presence of three main strikes of the systems of tectonic dislocations – northwestern, northeastern and latitudinal.Conclusions. A large number of tectonic dislocations of various strikes and intensities, revealed using the methods of the probabilistic-statistical approach, implemented in the “COSCAD 3D” computer technology, indicates that the area under study is promising in terms of ore deposits.

Design and Experimental Study of a Novel Full-ocean-depth Pressure-retaining Sediment Sampler

AbstractDeep-sea sediments hold evolutionary records of the oceanic environment, records of great significance for scientific fields investigating marine sedimentary processes, structural evolution, and seabed mineral resource exploration. However, the acquisition of original samples from deep-sea sediments is completely dependent on advanced seabed sediment collection methods and technical equipment. In this paper, a novel sampler is proposed to obtain intact sediment samples at full-ocean-depth. It mainly consists of a sampling device, pressure-retaining device, pressure-compensating device and sample transfer device. The sampler can collect samples at full-ocean-depth (11,000 m) with a maximum core diameter of 54 mm and core length of 350 mm, and samples can be maintained at near in situ pressures during recovery. The sampler can be installed on a remote operated vehicle (ROV) or human occupied vehicle (HOV), and operated with a single mechanical arm to collect pressure-retained samples. The experimental test showed that the novel sampler had good pressure-retaining performance and suitability with a mechanical arm, and can be applied to pressure-retaining sampling of seabed sediments at depth of 11,000 m.

Assessment of physical and chemical properties, health risk of trace metals and quality indices of surface waters of the rivers and lakes of the Kola Peninsula (Murmansk Region, North-West Russia).

The pollution of waterbodies with trace metals is of concern throughout the world due to their high toxicity. One of the main anthropogenic sources of trace metals entering natural waters is the mining and processing of minerals. Intensive development of the mining industry on the Kola Peninsula (the Murmansk region, Russia), exploration and development of new mineral resources have led to a sharp deterioration in the quality of surface waters of rivers and lakes. As a result of anthropogenic impact, accumulation of a wide range of metals (mainly Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Mn, Sr, Al and Fe) is observed, as well as significant changes in the physicochemical parameters and radioactive conditions of surface waters. The most polluted waterbodies of the Kola Peninsula are located in the Monchegorsk, Olenegorsk and Apatit regions. Consumption of water from investigated contaminated sources can cause various high risks of human health. The results of this study will provide an informative basis for future risk assessments of the environment and human health, as well as for the development of integrated measures for managing the quality of surface waters of lakes and rivers of the Kola Peninsula.

A spatial-compositional feature fusion convolutional autoencoder for multivariate geochemical anomaly recognition

The spatial structural features and compositional relationships of multivariate geochemicals are influenced by complex geological processes (e.g., diagenesis and mineralization), and can help identify geochemical anomalies and provide key references for mineral resource exploration. However, previous machine-learning-based models often treat spatial structural features or compositional relationships separately. Based on the multitask stack autoencoder structure, this study proposes a feature fusion convolutional autoencoder (FCAE) to extract and fuse the spatial structural features and compositional relationships of multivariate geochemicals for identifying geochemical anomalies. In addition, a three-stage training (3ST) strategy combining greedy layerwise pretraining and overall fine-tuning is adopted to calibrate the FCAE. To assess the performance, the proposed FCAE was used to identify the anomalies related to the Cu ore in the southwest area of the Wuyishan polymetallic metallogenic belt in China. The results showed that fusing both spatial structural features and compositional relationships effectively improved the accuracy of the anomaly identification. The FCAE outperformed several existing models by achieving an AUC of 0.863, a recall of 0.909, and the highest intersection point of the P-A plot in the experiments. In addition, the FCAE is less sensitive to the size of the convolution window, which makes the method more applicable and reliable for mineral resource exploration.

An integrated ASTER-based approach for mapping carbonatite and iron oxide-apatite deposits

Mapping of carbonatites and related mineral deposits has occupied prominent place in mineral resource exploration programs given their potential to host valuable concentrations of critical metals such as rare earth elements and niobium. Based on spectral characteristics of most indicative minerals for these rocks, a mapping approach was developed using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data. The combination of band rationing outcomes with components from the principal component analysis and minimum noise fraction techniques highlighted the targeted rocks, with the excellent prospective zone representing ∼ 0.2% of the total investigated area. This approach was successfully applied to the Gleibat Lafhouda complex to rapidly delineate carbonatites and iron oxide-apatite ore outcrops. Results were validated through field observations and in-situ geochemical analysis using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer. Field data have also served as training data to perform a supervised classification, allowing further improvement of the mapping results.

Optimized workflows for high-frequency seismic interferometry using dense arrays

SUMMARYHigh-frequency seismic surface waves sample the top few tens of meters to the top few kilometres of the subsurface. They can be used to determine 3-D distributions of shear-wave velocities and to map the depths of discontinuities (interfaces) within the crust. Passive seismic imaging, using ambient noise as the source of signal, can thus be an effective tool of exploration for mineral, geothermal and other resources, provided that sufficient high-frequency signal is available in the ambient noise wavefield and that accurate, high-frequency measurements can be performed on this signal. Ambient noise imaging using the ocean-generated noise at 5–30 s periods is now a standard method, but less signal is available at frequencies high enough for deposit-scale imaging (0.2–30 Hz), and few studies have reported successful measurements in broad frequency bands. Here, we develop a workflow for the measurement of high-frequency, surface wave phase velocities in very broad frequency ranges. Our workflow comprises (1) a new noise cross-correlation procedure that accounts for the non-stationary properties of the high-frequency noise sources, removes bandpass filtering, replaces temporal normalization with short time window stacking, and drops the explicit spectral normalization by adopting cross-coherence; (2) a new phase-velocity measurement method that extends the bandwidth of reliable measurements by exploiting the (resolved) 2π ambiguity of phase-velocity measurements and (3) interstation-distance-dependent quality control that uses the similarity of subgroups of dispersion curves to reject outliers and identify the frequency ranges with accurate measurements. The workflow is highly automated and applicable to large arrays. Applying our method to data from a large-N array that operated for one month near Marathon, Ontario, Canada, we use rectangular subarrays with 150-m station spacing and, typically, 1 hr of data and obtain Rayleigh-wave phase-velocity measurements in a 0.5–30 Hz frequency range, spanning over 5.9 octaves, twice the typical frequency range of 1.5–3 octaves in previous studies. Phase-velocity maps and the subregion-average 1-D velocity models they constrain show a high-velocity anomaly consistent with the known, west-dipping gabbro intrusions beneath the area. The new structural information can improve our understanding of the geometry of the gabbro intrusions, hosting the Cu-PGE Marathon deposit.

Uniaxial Compression Properties of Marble with Crossed Double Fissures at Different Angles in Mineral Resource Exploration

In order to study the effect of the two prefabricated crack angles of the prefabricated cross-shaped cracks on the peak stress, crack development and acoustic emission characteristics of the marble specimens under uniaxial compression, the uniaxial compression test and acoustic emission were carried out by using natural marble specimens to prefabricate the intersecting cracks at different angles. test. Experimental research shows that: (1) The strength of the prefabricated cracked specimen is significantly lower than that of the complete specimen, and the strength of the specimen decreases as the sum of the angles between the two cracks and the loading direction increases. When the sum of the angles is the same, the strength of the two cracks the greater the angle of the crack with the load direction, the lower the strength. (2) The test piece always cracks first at the end of the crack with a larger angle with the loading direction, and the through crack that leads to the final failure of the test piece is also gradually developed from the two ends of the crack. (3) The larger the angle between the two prefabricated cracks of the specimen and the load direction, the higher the accumulated acoustic emission energy, the higher the accumulated acoustic emission energy, and the lower the strength of the specimen.

HISTORY OF THE DECADE OF GEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE POPULARIZATION BY THE PUBLIC ORGANIZATION UKRAINIAN ASSOCIATION OF GEOLOGISTS

The article reveals the chronology of events lasting ten years from 2010 to 2020, which are devoted to the geological industry promotion. The Public Organization Ukrainian Association of Geologists fulfils its mission and supports scientific activities, promotes the professional consolidation of scientists and specialists working in geology and related fields; boosts the prestige of professions related to the exploration and use of mineral resources, the geological environment protection.

Survei Ketahanan Petani Sekitar Kawasan Industri Pengolahan Nikel di Sulawesi Tenggara

Exploration of mineral resources can encourage economic development and threaten the environment, health, ecosystem, and social comfort of the surrounding community. Therefore, through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities or other activities, industrial companies can balance negative impacts and strengthen sustainable development that can improve the resilience and welfare of the surrounding community. Therefore, this research aims to assess the community's resilience in supporting the sustainability of agricultural development. The research will be conducted in Morosi Subdistrict, Konawe Regency. The concept of community resilience and the theory of sustainability of growth became the basis of this study. This research was started by conducting literature studies in various reputable books and journals to determine community resilience dimensions. Finally, set 5 dimensions measuring community resilience and six indicators measure the sustainability of agricultural development. A total of 24 items are used to measure community resilience and six instruments to measure the sustainability of agricultural development. This research was conducted from October to December 2020. The study involved 295 respondents distributed to family heads in 10 villages adjacent to Nickel Industry activities. Descriptive Statistical Analysis is used to explain the level of resilience of the community. This study found that farmers' resilience was built due to the operation of the nickel industry at the research site, such as economic dimensions, social capital, environment, community competence, information, and communication. The dimensions of social capital, community competence, knowledge, and communication are considered high. In comparison, the economic and environmental aspects are relatively moderate. This dimension is expected to be one of the guidelines for the government in taking a policy of building farmers community' resilience for the sustainability of agricultural development, especially farmers around the Nickel mining industry.

Mineral Resource Science in China: Review and perspective

Mineral resources are essential to prosperity and security of modern societies. How mineral resources can guarantee sustainable development of economy in countries, especially those developing countries, has long been a focus of attention of international communities. This paper provides a comprehensive summary for major advance of the research on mineral resources in past decades, and proposes some key issues regarding ore-forming mechanism, exploration and utilization of major and critical mineral resources. On the basis of these aspects, we also identify four priority science issues to be addressed in the future, including (1) mechanism of both metal circulation and extremely high concentration, (2) theories and technologies of prospecting deep-earth resources, (3) investigation of mineral resources in seafloor and polar regions, and (4) efficient, clean and recycling utilization of mineral resources. It can be expected that new advances in these four issues would tremendously promote the innovation of mineral resource science, and provide scientific and technologic support to meet the demand of mineral resources for human activities and the harmonious development of both mineral-resource exploration and ecological restoration.