The measures are:

   First, strengthening the prospecting of 16 kinds of key minerals and key mining areas. The 16 kinds of key minerals include petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron, copper and aluminum, and the key mining areas include 11 oil bearing basins, 45 coal mining areas, and 16 key metallic mineral belts. The prospecting will help build up a number of key mineral resource bases in western China and make new breakthroughs in looking for minerals in eastern and central China by 2010.

   Second, increasing input in mineral prospecting. In 2006, the state earmarked 2 billion yuan to establish a central geological prospecting fund to facilitate pre-stage prospecting for key minerals and key mining areas. Meanwhile, provincial level funds for geological prospecting will be established, while social inputs in mineral prospecting will also be encouraged.

   Third, improving the geological work system, including setting up central and local geological prospecting teams, encouraging state prospecting units to cooperate with social capital in launching mineral or geological service companies, encouraging mining enterprises to establish mining groups of international competitiveness, and encouraging the development of commercial mineral resources prospecting companies of various kinds of ownership.