Abstract:

With the launching of the Deep-time Digital Earth program (DDE) by the International Union of Geosciences, it is of great significance to carry out the construction of big data platforms for genetic mineralogy and in-depth data mining research. We suggest that priority should be given to constructing big data platform for mineral phylogenetic history, mineral typomorphism and mineral genetic classification researches, which involves building big data models, developing big data processing methods, and extracting information from the big data processing results. Big data-based phylogenetic history (or mineral evolution) research should be conducted on several strategic key metals (e.g, lithium, gallium, uranium, cerium and platinum, etc.) and mineral classes to analyze their accumulation and dispersion patterns in different tectonic units and geological eras as a basis for key metal ore prediction. It is possible to reveal the nature, distribution, scale and radiation effect of important geochemical, geophysical and biological events during the Earth’s geologic history by studying mineral evolution through in-depth mining of mineralogical big data and researching mineral phylogenetic history. Big data platform for genetic mineralogical research should be employed in finalizing the classification of “explicit” genetic mineral groups and related map compilation and, later on, in carrying out the classification of “implicit” genetic mineral groups and related map compilation. Attention should be paid to cultivating talents for big data-based interdisciplinary mineralogical research, while big data-based genetic mineralogical research should be pursued at the graduate level.

Key words: genetic mineralogy, big data platform, strategic metallic minerals, mineral accumulation and dispersion patterns, cultivation of interdisciplinary research talents, interdisciplinary research direction