The China Geological Survey (CGS) is a government-owned, not-for-profit, Chinese organization researching China's mineral resources. It is a public institution managed by the State Council's ministries and commissions responsible for geological and mineral exploration under the State Council of the People's Republic of China. According to the national land and resources survey plan, it is now managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources.[1] It is the largest Geoscience agency in China since being reinstated in 1999, and the headquarter is in Beijing, the capital of China.
The CGS is the primary organization responsible for conducting geological surveys and research in China, and its work is focused on resource exploration, environmental protection, geological hazard prevention, and geological disaster reduction.
The CGS conducts geological surveys across China's land, sea, and polar regions, with a particular focus on the exploration and development of mineral resources. It also conducts research on geology, mineral resources, and geological hazards. The CGS is responsible for publishing geological maps, reports, and other scientific publications related to its work. In addition, the CGS maintains a number of research institutions, laboratories, and observatories that focus on various aspects of geology and geophysics. The annual budget of China Geological Survey is approximately 540 million US dollars in 2021, and there are approximately 14,000 employees in 2022. In particular, China Geological Survey also aims to provide scientific support for the sustainable development of China's economy, society and environment, and to promote the protection and utilization of geological resources.
The China Geological Survey originated in the early days of the Republic of China (when it had control over mainland China).[2] Many prominent geologists and paleontologists worked with the Survey in the early days, such as Davidson Black or Teilhard de Chardin. It was disbanded after the People's Republic of China gained control over mainland China and reinstated in 1999.
The China Geological Survey originated in the period of the Republic of China. In 1912, the Nanjing Provisional Government of the Republic of China officially established the Geological Section in the Mining Department of the Ministry of Industry.[3] In June 1913, the Government of the Republic of China established the "Geological Survey Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce". In February 1916, the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce of the Beiyang Government established a Geological Survey Bureau directly under it. In July 1916, the first batch of 18 geological graduates independently trained by China officially entered the Geological Survey Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. In October 1916, the Geological Survey Bureau was renamed the Geological Survey Institute and implemented independent accounting. Many famous geologists and paleontologists of the time, such as Davidson Black, carried out the survey work in the early stage. And Zhang Hongzhao, Ding Wenjiang, Weng Wenhao, Li Siguang and other 299 geologists.
During the Anti-Japanese War, the Geological Survey Institute first moved from Beiping to Nanjing, and then from Nanjing to Chongqing via Changsha. During this period, Yanchang Oilfield and Yumen Oilfield were successively discovered or surveyed, a batch of tungsten mines were discovered in Jiangxi, bauxite mines were discovered in Yunnan and Guizhou, and coal mines were discovered in Zhaotong, Yunnan and Shuicheng, Guizhou.
After the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949, before and after the start of the "First Five-Year Plan", the country's economic construction urgently needed mineral support. Li Siguang led the planning and established the China Geological Work Planning Steering Committee in August 1950.[1] In 1952, the Ministry of Geology was established to lead and manage the general survey and exploration of mineral resources in the country, and to uniformly arrange and organize the implementation of national geological work. Li Siguang was appointed as the Minister of Geology. In 1952, domestic colleges and universities adjusted the setting of geology majors and established professional geology colleges with complete disciplines. By 1966, in addition to the affiliated Beijing Institute of Geology, Chengdu Institute of Geology, and Changchun Institute of Geology, more than 20 colleges and universities across the country had departments of geology, coalfield geology, and marine geology.[4] In the more than ten years from 1953 to 1966, the geological department trained 75,000 geological graduates at all levels, more than 100 times the number of geological professionals trained before 1949. In addition to the geological talents trained by other departments, The total number exceeds 110,000. Among them, graduate students accounted for 0.75% of the total, and undergraduate students accounted for 38.8%.[4] In 1970, the State Council reformed and the Ministry of Geology was reorganized into the Geological Bureau of the State Planning Commission.
After the reform and opening up, the Ministry of Geology was restored. In 1982, the Ministry of Geology was renamed the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources. From 1977 to 1996, a total of 300,000 geological graduates were trained.[4] The Ministry of Land and Resources was established in 1998. In 1999, the reform of the geological survey system was implemented, and the China Geological Survey Bureau was established. As of October 2016, there were 7,549 active employees. Among them, there are 1,423 people with a doctoral degree and 2,392 people with a master's degree, accounting for 19% and 32% of the total number respectively; 1,185 people have senior professional titles, and 1,464 people with associate senior professional titles, accounting for 16% and 19% of the total number respectively. There are 16 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 9 of them won the title of "Li Siguang Scholar", 33 of outstanding geological talents, and 58 of outstanding geological talents.[5]
The institutional setup of the China Geological Survey includes several departments:
In addition, China Geological Survey has several research centers, including the Institute of Geology, the Institute of Mineral Resources, and the Institute of Marine Geology. These centers are responsible for advanced research and development in their respective fields.
There are also some affilitates of China Geological Survey:
National Geological Library of China (CNGL) is a national library specializing in geological and mineral resources information, which is also called the GeoScience Documentation Center of China Geological Survey (CGS). It is a public welfare unit that affiliated to the China Geological Survey. It is managed by the China Geological Survey, it contains a wide range of geological data and information resources. There are some main tasks for NGLC, like collecting, processing and developing the geoscience literature. Meanwhile, NGLC can also "carry out related research and information system construction, and provide geoscience literature and information". At present, NGLC has "710,000 books and documents published at home and abroad", have "more than 10,000 documents", and "more than 20 databases, covering a history of nearly 200 years".[6] The Earth Science Documentation Center of the China Geological Survey is an executive director unit of the Library Society of China.
The primary duties and functions include:
The China Geological Survey Data Sharing Service Platform is a website operated by the China Geological Survey that provides a wide range of geological data and information resources, including geological maps, reports, and other scientific publications. The platform aims to facilitate data sharing and collaboration among researchers, government agencies and other stakeholders in the fields of geology and mineral resources. The platform contains a wealth of geological data and information, including geology, mineral resources, hydrology, geophysics and environmental geology data.[7]
Data is organized into various categories that can be searched and downloaded through the platform's search interface. In addition to the website, the CGS data sharing service platform also provides mobile applications for users to access data and information anytime and anywhere. The app is available for download on Android and iOS devices. The platform also offers a variety of data analysis and visualization tools and services, as well as scientific publications and other resources related to geology and mineral resources.
The Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS) is a scientific research institution that operates under the China Geological Survey (CGS). It was established in 1956 and is headquartered in Beijing,[8] China. The CAGS is the leading research institution in the field of geology and mineral resources in China and plays a significant role in conducting geological research, promoting scientific and technological progress, and advancing sustainable development in the field of geology.The CAGS conducts a wide range of research activities, including basic research, applied research, and technological development in the fields of geology, mineral resources, and environmental geology. It also provides training and education programs for geologists, conducts international scientific cooperation, and publishes a variety of scientific publications and journals.
The CAGS is organized into several research departments, including the Institute of Mineral Resources, the Institute of Geology, the Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, and the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth. These research departments are focused on specific areas of geology and mineral resources research, and they work closely with each other to conduct interdisciplinary research.
China Mining is a website that provides news and information about China's mining industry, including geological surveying and exploration. It is a website that covers a wide range of topics related to the mining industry, such as mining policies, investment opportunities, and technological developments. The website is operated by China Mining Association (CMA), which is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that represents the mining industry in China. The CMA was established in 1987 and is based in Beijing, China. It has more than 1,500 members, including mining companies, research institutions, and other stakeholders in the mining industry.[9]
China Mining provides news and analysis on the latest developments in Mining Industry of China, as well as insights into the country's mining policies and regulations. It also features articles and reports on technological innovations and best practices in the mining sector. The website provides a platform for networking and knowledge sharing among stakeholders in the mining industry, including mining companies, investors, and policymakers.
China Mining also organizes the annual conference and exhibition, which is one of the largest mining events in the world. The conference provides a platform for mining companies, investors, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and to share information on the latest developments in the mining industry.
In the past two decades, the China Geological Survey has made significant progress in geological research and exploration. Some key achievements include:
More Detailed Achievements of China Geological Survey
The Nine Programs for future of China Geological Survey is a series of strategic initiatives aimed at improving China's geological survey capabilities and promoting sustainable resource development. These programs include: