China Unveils AI Systems for Mineral Exploration and Geological Mapping
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, China has unveiled two artificial intelligence-based systems engineered to advance mineral resource exploration and geological mapping. These systems, reported by TV BRICS and highlighted by the Global Times, leverage cutting-edge technologies to transform geological surveys.
The first system integrates big data, artificial intelligence, and other novel technologies for regional geological mapping. It combines data collected from space, aerial, and ground-based sources, covering the entire process from initial studies and field data collection to geological analysis, map production, and result delivery. This system can identify geological structures with over 90% accuracy and boost the efficiency of data processing, integrated analysis, and geological map creation by more than 50%. It has undergone testing on nearly 100 maps at a 1:50,000 scale.
The second system focuses on the application of AI in mineral resource exploration. It amalgamates geoscientific data, geological knowledge, exploration models, and over 200 data processing and analysis algorithms. This system is capable of processing geological, gravity, magnetic, electrical, geochemical, and remote sensing data to pinpoint ore-forming patterns and potential exploration zones. It supports various operational modes, including expert guidance, automated processing, and human-AI collaboration. The system can integrate data, identify exploration targets, construct 3D geological models, conduct resource assessments, and generate specialized evaluation maps and reports.
Testing has shown that tasks previously taking approximately six months can now be completed within a week. During gold exploration in the Qinling region of western China, this system processed and evaluated data from 32 maps in just five days, identifying two gold exploration targets and four areas suitable for further investigation.
Beyond gold, this technology can be applied to the exploration of other minerals, including iron, copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, uranium, and potash. Developed drawing on decades of mineral resource exploration experience from the China Geological Survey, the system has been tested in over 100 projects across more than 10 provincial-level regions within the country.
Experts believe these two technologies have the potential to drive a smart transformation in global mineral resource exploration processes and foster innovation in geological mapping.
