The annual China Prospectors Conference opened on Thursday in Urumqi, Xinjiang. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The annual China Prospectors Conference kicked off on Thursday in Urumqi, Xinjiang, with industry experts calling for the adoption of artificial intelligence to streamline mineral exploration.
"To achieve unmanned workflows, intelligent technology research and development must be accelerated across geophysical surveying, aerial remote sensing and drilling operations," Mao Jingwen, a Chinese Academy of Engineering academician, said in his report.
Mao stated that technological innovation is expected to ignite a fresh wave of breakthroughs in mineral exploration, urging expanded surveys in northern Xinjiang and on southern blocks, where vast resources remain largely untapped.
Mao Jingwen, a Chinese Academy of Engineering academician, gives a presentation at the conference. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
This year's conference, themed "Anchoring Strategic Resources to Boost Reserves and Production", aims to strengthen China's security for critical minerals. More than 1,500 representatives from geological survey institutes, mining enterprises, research organizations and equipment manufacturers attended the three-day event.
Cheng Liwei, head of the China Mining Association, highlighted Xinjiang's pivotal role. "As one of China's leading mining provinces, Xinjiang has identified 154 mineral types, which is around 88 percent of the nation's known deposits, and it adopts more flexible, open policies than other regions," he said.
The annual China Prospectors Conference opened on Thursday in Urumqi, Xinjiang. [Photo by Department of Natural Resources of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Recent data show Xinjiang's mining sector flourishing across energy, metallic and non-metallic minerals. Over the past three years, the region has granted 146,227 and 558 mining rights respectively, ranking first nationwide each year. Between January and May this year, these grants brought in 19 billion yuan ($2.64 billion) for the region.
First held in Beijing in 2004 and hosted by the China Mining Association, the conference has become a key platform, helping turn exploration policies into action, fosters technological innovation, and promotes industry-wide collaboration.
