Tag: Mining
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How to Monitor Mining Expansion Using Multi-Temporal Satellite Imagery
Multi-temporal satellite imagery can reveal where a mine’s surface footprint is expanding, which facilities are changing, and how surrounding land is being affected. Reliable monitoring, however, requires more than placing two images side by side. The images must be comparable, the changes must be linked to specific mine features, and the findings must be checked…
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Why Satellite Monitoring Fails Under Cloud Cover — and When SAR Helps
A satellite may pass over a mine, port or infrastructure corridor on schedule and still produce no usable optical view of the site. Clouds can hide the ground, while cloud shadows and haze can make visible areas unsuitable for reliable analysis. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can maintain observations through cloud cover and darkness, but it…
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First Geological Mapping Results from China-Saudi Geoscience Cooperation Released
Saudi Arabia’s Geological Survey released the first batch of 24 detailed 1:100,000-scale geological maps of the Saudi Arabian Shield on Sept. 11 during the Central Asia-West Asia Mining Investment Promotion Conference at the 2026 China International Mining Conference. Led by the China Geological Survey, the project represents a major milestone in China-Saudi geoscience cooperation and…
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China Unveils First AI Systems for Geological Mapping and Mineral Prospecting
China’s Ministry of Natural Resources on Sept. 11 unveiled the AI-GeoMapping and AI-OreSeeking systems at the 2026 China International Mining Conference, marking the first global release of the two platforms. Developed independently by the China Geological Survey, the systems apply artificial intelligence across the full workflows of basic geological surveying and mineral exploration evaluation. The…
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Green Mining | Six Scenarios Unlock New Paths for Green Mineral Exploration in China
In recent years, China has vigorously promoted green mineral exploration, carrying out a series of initiatives in areas including institutional guidance, equipment demonstrations and promotion, and the development of a sound standards system. In 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration issued the Notice on Fully Implementing Green Exploration…
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China Reports Largest Porphyry Copper-Gold Find in Middle-Lower Yangtze, Opening New Exploration Frontier
China has reported a major copper-gold exploration breakthrough in Anhui province, identifying what researchers describe as the largest porphyry copper-gold deposit yet found in the Middle-Lower Yangtze region and challenging conventional assumptions about where large porphyry systems can form. China’s Ministry of Natural Resources announced the latest exploration results on Sept. 1. The breakthrough centers…
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Star–Air–Ground–Borehole Exploration Technology Leads to New Breakthrough in Gangdese Mineral Prospecting
Recently, the China Aero Geophysical and Remote Sensing Center for Natural Resources’ Qinghai–Tibet Plateau airborne geophysical exploration team discovered the Changlong iron-rich tin polymetallic deposit for the first time in an unexplored area of the western Gangdese metallogenic belt. The discovery took just six months from the initial flight survey to the confirmation of mineralization,…
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From Mineral Exploration to Disaster Monitoring: What Can Remote Sensing AI Do?
Can remote sensing AI provide professional insights and intelligent decision support for resource exploration, mine development and geological hazard monitoring? “AI cannot be discussed independently of observation,” an industry expert said when discussing intelligent remote sensing interpretation. Remote sensing AI must remain grounded in real-world operations rather than becoming a numbers game focused solely on…
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From Carbon Emissions to Carbon Sinks: How Satellites Support Carbon Monitoring
As the world continues to pursue net-zero targets, carbon data is becoming an increasingly important foundation for climate governance, corporate emissions reduction, and ecosystem management. Countries need to quantify and assess greenhouse gas emissions more accurately. Companies need an ongoing understanding of emissions changes across their operations and associated facilities. Carbon markets and carbon projects…
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Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026
The IEA examines the full spectrum of energy issues including oil,gasand coal supply and demand, renewable energy technologies, electricity markets, energy efficiency , access to energy , demand sidemanagement and much more. Through its work, the IEA advocates policies that will enhance the reliability , affordability and sustainability of energy in its 32 Member countries,…