| Critical minerals are required for the materials of industry 4.0 and low-carbon energy needs. More than 50 of critical elements are composited into critical materials essential for modern society, e.g., advanced manufacturing,electronics, low-carbon energy, defense, medicine industries. Geochemical exploration are cost-effective techonology for delineation of spatial distribution and concentration targets for critical mineral resources. China is in the leading position in geochemical mapping spatial distribution of critical elements and exploration for deep-seated deposits. Geochemical mapping methodology for global-, national-, local- and nanometer-scale distribution of critical elements has been created. Deep-penetrating exploration capability has extended from the 2 to 3 demension patterns and from surface to depth of thousand meters. Super-enriched concentration promising areas of rare earth elements, lithium, uranium in across China were delineated and deep-seated gold and copper despoists were discovered according to the geochemical anomalies. The special issue shows some results of geochemical exploration for rare earth elements, new energy metals such as uranium, lithium and cobalt, gold and copper resources. |