By analyzing the variation of investment from 2011 to 2020, the transformation characteristics of China's geological work in the past decade and its future trend are analyzed in combination with the current situation and demand characteristics of economic and social development. It is shown that with the continuous decline of investment in the past decade the structure of geological work has been deeply adjusted, with the old driving force accelerating retreat and transformation, and the new driving force booming under the demand stimulation. The minerals exploration remained the mainstay in China, and oil/gas exploration was kept in an orderly manner. Explorations of gold, copper, iron, lead and zinc and other traditional minerals suffered the greatest impact while explorations of graphite, uranium and other emerging strategic minerals enjoyed increasing demand. Agricultural geology, urban geology, environmental geology, disaster geology survey evaluation and monitoring, geothermal resources survey and other new fields ushered in the development opportunities, leading the direction of China's geological transformation. Regional geological survey, hydrogeological survey and marine geological survey were gradually adjusted to meet basic needs. Geological science and technology and comprehensive research, geological data service and informatization were improving to support the continuous transformation of geological development.

geological work  /  investment  /  transmation development  /  mineral exploration  /  basic geological survey