On the Current Situation of Mines in China

China is one of a few countries, which have a rather complete variety of mineral resources, and a fair abundance of mineral resources in total quantity. The abundant mineral resources is one of conditions to guarantee the industrialization process in such a rapid speed since the reform and open-up policy carried out. But, while entering 21st century, China is lying in a harsh situation that many mines are in mineral resources crisis, or in a state of being exhausted. The geological survey item, named Resources Potential Survey and Valuation of the Mines in Mineral Resources Crisis, has been finished and the results have been taken as the base of the National Planing Outline of Substitute Resources Exploration in the Mines in Mineral Resources Crisis, which was agreed by the State Council on Sep 6th,2004. Since then, the exploration work of substitute resources in the mines in mineral resources crisis has been started in stages. In the above mentioned geological investigation item, there are good prospects with a big potential for finding more mineral resources in outlying areas around old mines. To increase the domestic capability of mineral resources supply, we should strengthen the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, strive for a rational distribution of regional geological exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, accelerate the structural adjustment of mineral resources exploitation and utilization, raise the level of multipurpose utilization of mineral resources, and solve step by step the crisis of substitute resources in old mines.