International Eurasian Academy of Sciences, IEAS

Academician

Xun ZHU

Profile:

Elected Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences in 1999, Professor Xun Zhu is a Chinese geologist and mineral exploration expert whose career has encompassed ore-deposit geology and exploration, geological and mineral resource management, and the development of prospecting philosophy. Born in May 1930 in Funing, Jiangsu Province, he studied factory management at Renmin University of China from 1950 to 1952 before being selected for study in the Soviet Union. He subsequently transferred to geology and graduated from the Dnepropetrovsk Mining Institute in 1957. Returning to China that year, he spent 25 years working with geological field teams and bureaus in Jiangxi Province, progressing from technician with the Northeast Jiangxi Geological Brigade to Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of the Provincial Geological Bureau. He directed exploration of the Dexing copper deposit, identified a deep fault zone in northeastern Jiangxi that became an important basis for subsequent regional prospecting, and led the evaluation of major deposits including Dexing copper, Huating manganese, Geyuan niobium-tantalum, and Zhangcun serpentinite. Appointed Vice Minister of Geology and Mineral Resources in 1982, he subsequently served as Minister and Secretary of its Party Group, while also serving as Chairman of the National Reserves Committee. In 1987 he became founding President of China University of Geosciences. He later held senior positions in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and served on the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. He is now Honorary President of the China Mining Association and Honorary Chairman of the National Committee for Geo-Philosophy. His honours include the Medal of Friendship of the Russian Federation, state decorations of Ukraine and Zaire, and the commemorative medal marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

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Professor Zhu’s scientific work has focused on porphyry copper deposits and on the theoretical interpretation of China’s mineral exploration practice. His co-authored monograph The Dexing Porphyry Copper Mine (1983) systematically examined the geology of the deposit. His early recognition that metallogenic belts extend across political boundaries led him to predict the continuation of the Soviet Altai metallogenic belt into Xinjiang, a proposition later supported by the discovery of the Ashele copper deposit. His most distinctive contribution was the establishment of prospecting philosophy, applying philosophical and methodological approaches to the systematic analysis of geological exploration practice. His An Introduction to Prospecting Philosophy (1992) developed this work into a distinct field of applied study. He formulated the principle of exploring areas around known deposits while continuing systematic prospecting in new regions, and developed the theory of step-wise development as a broader framework for understanding processes in nature and society. During his tenure as Minister, he was closely involved in major developments in China’s geological and mineral administration, including the promulgation of the Mineral Resources Law in 1986, nationwide prospecting programmes, the national gold exploration campaign, and reforms to geological exploration institutions. He also advanced policy discussions on resource conservation, strategic reserves, and resource security. Professor Zhu has published more than 100 academic papers and more than 10 books, including China’s Mineral Situation, Earth Sciences and Sustainable Development, and Mountains Without Bounds. Through sustained work spanning field geology, mineral exploration, resource administration, and applied philosophy, he has contributed to the development of geological science and mineral exploration in China and to the theoretical study of prospecting practice.