China: China unveiled geological mapping and mineral exploration systems powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on Friday, marking a shift from decades of expert-driven fieldwork to more accurate, comprehensive and efficient data, and algorithm-based predictions.

According to Qatar News Agency, the China Geological Survey released two systems, AI-OreSeeking and AI-GeoMapping, at the 28th China Mining Conference and Exhibition held in north China's Tianjin Municipality, as the country pushes to secure critical mineral supplies. Geological mapping serves as a roadmap to the subterranean world of minerals, revealing the distribution of geological strata, structures, and rock formations.

An official with the China Geological Survey responsible for AI-GeoMapping, Li Fengdan, stated that this process represents the fundamental requirement for detecting indicators of mineral deposits and identifying target areas for exploration. He added that after a decade of development, the system has evolved from achievements in basic AI algorithms and specialized software platforms into an integrated smart ecosystem covering every stage of the workflow.

Li Fengdan indicated that the system addresses long-standing field challenges such as rugged, inaccessible terrain and limited rock exposure due to swamps or deserts. The system can identify geological bodies with overall accuracy exceeding 90% while improving the efficiency of data processing, integrated analysis, and geological map compilation. It also doubles data-processing efficiency compared to traditional methods by integrating satellite imagery and airborne geophysical surveys with field observations using AI techniques.