Molybdenum exploration activity in China has accelerated tremendously during the past decade owing to the continuous, increasing demand for Earth resources. China possesses the largest Mo reserves in the world (exceeding 19.6 Mt). The major ore deposits are of porphyry, porphyry–skarn, skarn, vein, and sedimentary types. Porphyry molybdenum deposits contain 77.5% of the Chinese Mo reserves, with lesser amounts in porphyry–skarns (13%), skarns (5.1%), and veins (4.4%). Exploitation of sedimentary-type molybdenum deposits thus far has been uneconomical. The six Mo provinces are in the Northeast China, Yanliao, Qinling–Dabie, middle–lower Yangtze River Valley, South China, and Sanjiang areas. We recognize six ore-forming periods: (1) Precambrian (>541 Ma), (2) Palaeozoic (541–250 Ma), (3) Triassic (250–200 Ma), (4) Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (190–135 Ma), (5) Cretaceous (135–90 Ma), and (6) Cenozoic (55–12 Ma). The abundance of Mo ore deposits in China reflects the occurrence of multiple periods of tectonism, involving interactions between the Siberian, North China, Yangtze, India, and Palaeo-Pacific plates. Precambrian molybdenum deposits are related to Mesoproterozoic volcanism in an extensional setting. Palaeozoic Cu–Mo deposits are related to calc-alkaline granitic plutons in an island arc or a continental margin setting. Triassic Mo deposits formed in the syn-collision–postcollision tectonic setting between the Siberian and North China plates and between the North China and Yangzi plates. Jurassic–Early Cretaceous molybdenum deposits formed along the eastern margin of Asia and are associated with the palaeo-Pacific plate-subduction tectonic setting. Cretaceous Mo deposits are related to high-K calc-alkaline granitic rocks and formed in a lithospheric thinning setting. Cenozoic molybdenum deposits formed in a collision setting between the Indian and Eurasian continents and the subsequent extensional setting.

Numerous molybdenum (Mo) ore deposits have been discovered in the East Xingmeng orogenic belt (East Central Asian orogenic belt), over the past 10 years, and this region is becoming one of the world's most important Mo production areas. It contains 6.18 Mt of proven Mo metal reserves, which accounts for 30% of the total proven Chinese Mo reserves. The ore district includes 37 deposits and 15 occurrences, with three major Mo ore types, that is porphyries, skarns, and hydrothermal veins. The latter can be subdivided into quartz- and volcanic hydrothermal-vein types. With the exception of the Ordovician Duobaoshan porphyry Cu–Mo deposit (477 Ma), all the East Xingmeng Mo deposits formed during the Mesozoic. Re–Os dating of molybdenite has documented three episodes of Mo mineralization: Early Triassic (248–242 Ma), Jurassic (178–146 Ma), and Early Cretaceous (142–131 Ma). Early Triassic Mo deposits are distributed along the northern margin fault of the North China Craton (NCC) and include porphyry and quartz vein types. They are characterized by the association of Mo + Cu. Jurassic Mo deposits are mainly distributed in the eastern area and include porphyry, quartz vein, and skarn types. They are typified by Mo alone and/or the association of Mo, Pb, and Zn. Cretaceous Mo deposits are distributed in all areas and include porphyry and volcanic hydrothermal vein types. Similar to the Jurassic ores, they are simple Mo or Mo + Pb + Zn deposits. Volcanic hydrothermal vein deposits are characterized by an association of molybdenum and uranium. The Triassic Mo deposits formed in a syn-collision setting between the Siberian and North China plates. The Jurassic Mo deposits formed in a compressional setting, which was probably triggered by the westward subduction of the palaeo-Pacific plate. The Early Cretaceous Mo deposits are linked to a tectonic regime of lithosphere thinning, which was caused by delamination of thickened lithosphere. However, the Mo deposits in the Erguna terrane of the northwest Xingmeng orogenic belt may be related to the evolution of the Okhotsk Ocean.

The Da Hinggan Mountains mineral province (DHMP), northeastern China, is divided into three tectonic units and corresponding metallogenic belts. The tectonic units of the Da Hinggan Mountains are the Erguna fold zone on the northwest, the Hercynian fold zone on the north, and the Hercynian fold zone on the south. The corresponding metallogenic belts are the Erguna Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Mo-Au belt of the NW DHMP, the Cu-Pb-Zn-Mo-Fe-Au belt of the northern DHMP, and the Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu-Sn-Fe-Mo belt of the southern DHMP. Distinct ore bodies, mostly associated with Mesozoic granites and volcanics, comprise (1) hydrothermal vein deposits including Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu) and W‐Sn-Cu, (2) exhalative (Pb-Zn-Ag, Cu) deposits, (3) porphyry (Cu, Au, Mo), (4) skarn (Fe, Zn, Cu), and (5) epithermal Au-Ag deposits. The hydrothermal veins are hosted by a range of different rock types, whereas the exhalative ores are confined to Permian strata. The porphyry deposits occur within granite porphyries. The epithermal deposits are related to Mesozoic volcanic-subvolcanic rocks and occur within superjacent igneous structures. The first type, represented by the Bairendaba deposit, shows many characteristics of hydrothermal deposits. The second type occurs in a Permian clastic-chemical sedimentary sequence. Most Fe-Zn-Cu deposits related to granites and granodiorites are skarns. Granodiorite and granite-related deposits are typical porphyry ores, formed during Hercynian and Mesozoic time. Promising metallogenic conditions and the recent discovery of many large metal deposits indicate that this mineral province has a great exploration potential.