矿产资源是工业生产发展的重要物质基础之一。一个国家或地区拥有矿产资源的种类、储量、质量及其开发利用条件如何,对其基础工业的发展方向、规模、工业结构特点与合理布局的趋向有着深刻的影响。

Regional grouping of mineral resources is usually found in the boundary zone of dif-ferent geotectonic units or in the region having been subjected to various processes ofmineralization, The knowledge of the law of spacial distribution of regional groupingof mineral resources is of great importance to the development of national natural resour-ees, to the delimitation of economic regions, and to the planning of regional industrialcomplex according to the type of regional grouping of mineral resources.According to the spatial distribution pattern and the industrial comprehensiveutilization of mineral resources, regional grouping of mineral resources can be classifiedinto three basic types:1. That having a single mineral deposit of various associated minerals.2. That having a number of mineral deposits closely associated with each other.3. That having a number of mineral deposits not closely associated with each othergpecially.As geological structure varies from place to place, regional grouping of mineral re-sources is also highly varied and each of the three basic types can be further subdividedinto many sub-types.It has been proved in practice that to exploit mineral resources according to theirregional grouping is advantageous to the development of territorial industrial complex,to the enhancement of economical effect of investment, and to urban planning to limitthe size of large cities and to build small cities in clusters.