Mineral Features of Surface Sediments and Analysis of Solid-State Mineral Resources in Southeastern China Sea

With the development of modern industry and the increase of human demand, it is increasingly important to prospect and exploit marine mineral resources. Based on the oceanic geological investigation references obtained from the regional geological surveying and mapping of China Sea ("Shantoufu, F 50" 1∶1 000 000) and on the data ("Marine Engineering Geological Investigation Project in the Pearl River Mouth basin in the South China Sea" 1∶200 000), the authors elaborate the grain size composition, mineral composition, mineral features and distribution pattern of the surface sediments in the sea at 114°-120°E and 20°-24°N. Moreover, the analysis of the regional solid state mineral resources in the coast of Fujian, Guangdong and the west of Taiwan, shows that the main resources include littoral/neritic placers, littoral/neritic sandy gravel and ferromanganese nodule (crust). In addition, the future focus should be on the placers and sandy gravels in this littoral area.