Regional Geological Survey and Research of Northwest China from 1962 to 2022: Review and Prospect

Regional geological survey and research plays an essential role in geological work. Through the investigation and research for basic characteristics of rocks, strata, paleontology, tectonics and temporal and spatial evolution, we can continuously deepen the understanding for the process of multi-layered interaction system of the earth, solve key geological issues about the northwest China, and improve the cognition for earth system science and resources and environmental conditions. The works of the past sixty years are reviewed for the Xi'an center, CGS, mainly including regional geological mapping methods, plate tectonics and tectonic unit division, marine volcanic rocks and mineralization, intraplate volcanism in China and adjacent areas, Cenozoic aeolian accumulation and paleoclimate, Ediacaran and Ordovician-Silurian paleontology, continental marginal system and regional comprehensive mapping. Furthermore, many innovative methods, theoretical achievements and significant progress are summarized based on the field of resources, environment and national major projects supported by regional geology. During the sixty years, we have been focusing on the key regional geological issues that need to be solved in the northwest China. In the future, under the situation of transformation and upgrading of regional geology, we will firmly focus on the main line of the tectonic evolution process and resource and environmental effects. Based on it, we will continue to strengthen the regional geological survey and research, and promote the Cenozoic geological survey and research. In addition, it is necessary to promote the significant improvement for the data fusion ability of various specialties, and integrate the ideas of earth system science into the regional geological survey in the northwest China.