China advances geological and marine exploration technologies

Editor's note: A series of breakthroughs have been achieved in geological and marine exploration technologies, strengthening the nation's capacity for resource discovery, environmental monitoring and scientific research both on land and at sea.

5,000-meter Intelligent Geological Drilling Equipment

China's 5,000-meter intelligent geological drilling technology and equipment represent a major advance in deep-Earth exploration. Breakthroughs in intelligent control, automation, lightweight design and modular construction have enabled automated control of drilling and 90 percent automation at the wellhead. The technology has reached an internationally advanced level, with several features leading globally. It supports industrial upgrading and provides essential technical capacity for deep resource exploration.

Geology 1 Hyperspectral Small Satellite

Launched on May 17, the Geology 1 Hyperspectral Small Satellite is China's first satellite dedicated to geological research. Using advanced hyperspectral imaging, it can detect and identify geological resources and environmental elements with high precision. Weighing 83 kilograms, the satellite orbits 520 kilometers above Earth in a sun-synchronous path. It provides high-resolution, wide-spectrum imaging that greatly enhances the country's ability to conduct independent remote sensing for resource exploration, mineral monitoring and natural resource surveys.