Geochemical exploration in the semiarid steppe terrain of eastern Inner Mongolia — a case history

Abstract Regional geochemical exploration in the semiarid steppe region in the eastern part of Inner Mongolia was not satisfactory in the past. We have studied the dilution effect of aeolian sand on stream sediment and soil sampling, the distribution and migration of elements in soil, stream sediments, underground water and plants, and the feasibility of sampling these media in different subenvironmental conditions such as eroded plain regions, residual hilly regions, medium and low mountainous regions, and aeolian sand-covered plains, and have formulated a set of working methods and techniques suitable for regional geochemical exploration in different subenvironments. In recent years, we have applied the experimental results to large-scale exploration and have found several mineral deposits.