Abstract: Sulphur is one of the most important basic raw materials in the chemical industry and a key component in fertilizer production. In China, pyrite is the main resource in sulfur exploration and utilization. During 20072013, the China Geological Survey implemented the National Mineral Resources Assessment Initiative, which achieved a milestone with the completion of the sulfur metallogenic pattern and prediction study and the construction of the sulfur resources database. Using provincial level sulfur resources data, we performed nationwide characterization of sulfur ore spatiotemporal distribution and classification of metallogenic zones and mineralization types, developed the prediction model of typical ore deposit and forecast area, and assembled the national sulfur ore resources potential evaluation according to classification. Overall, China has 1437 sulfur mineral localities including sulfur deposits, mineral occurrences and mineralization points, of which 1418 were pyrite and 19 were natural sulfur mineral deposits. The metallogenic epoch of sulfur deposits is the late ArcheanCenozoic era, in which the Proterozoic has the largest sulfur ore reserves. Overall, we identified 46 levelⅢ sulfur metallogenic zones and 17 ore concentration areas and classified 6 prediction types (sedimentary metamorphic, sedimentary (marine facies and coal pyrite), magmatic hydrothermal, marine volcanic rock, continental volcanic rock and natural sulfur types) and 17 deposit types. The number of forecast areas for the six prediction types were found to be 20, 58, 68, 12, 9, and 5, respectively, using our prediction factors and model. Moreover, 274 levelⅢ sulfur prediction areas were delineated cumulatively, which involved 268 pyrite and 6 natural sulfur deposits. In total, China has 24.135 billion and 567 million tons of pyrite ore and natural sulfur reserves, respectively, with 18.457 billion and 232 million tons, respectively, as predicted resources. According to the metallogenic and geological conditions, geological characteristics, ore quality, and reliability of reserve estimate, we selected 21 priority exploration targets that contain, by prediction, a total of 222.930 million and 5.058 billion tons of natural sulfur and pyrite ore, respectively. The selected areas all have favorable metallogenic condition with large prospecting potential and basic operational support. Prospecting priority will be given in the near future to the forecast areas with known bed depth at the deposit edge, and the promising forecast areas can serve as the survey base.

Key words: sulfur resources, metallogenic geological characteristics, prediction model, evaluation of resource potential