Since the start of the industrial 4.0 and the fourth technological revolution, the importance of critical mineral resources has become increasingly prominent. At the end of 2017, Trump, by presidential decree, demanded that the United States “be self- sufficient” of 35 kinds critical minerals. Further increased international attention to critical mineral resources. As the largest developing country in the world, China is far less self- supporting than the United States in terms of mineral resources. Not only do large quantities of minerals need to be imported, but the externaldependence of rare metals such as lithium, beryllium, niobium, tantalum and other rare metals is also high. And Chinese society attaches less importance to these “little minerals” than the United States. Therefore, the investigation and research of critical mineral resources should be strengthened. Exploration and prospecting are imminent. Under the current situation, in order to ensure the development of strategic emerging industries, in order to achieve the great rejuvenation of Chinese Dream, and for the long- term stability of the national economy and the country, this paper proposes that 9 kinds of rare metals, 17 kinds of rare earth metals, 8 kinds of scattered metals, 3 kinds of rare gas, 12 kinds of traditional metals (black and non- ferrous), 8 kinds of non- metallic minerals and uranium, should be put forward and determinated as the critical mineral resources in China. These 8 groups of 41 kinds of mineral resources correspond roughly to the 35 kinds of minerals in the United States. Since 2011, China has focused on rare metals, rare earths and rare scatted metals (so called as rrr metals or 3R) minerals. New progress has been made in the fields of metallogenic theory, potential evaluation, ore prospecting breakthrough, environmental protection, mineral processing by physical methods, ore prospecting methods, analysis and testing, and mining administration, etc. In particular, through the prospecting of Jiajika and Keyin in Sichuan Province, the potential of new resources is equal to 10 large spodumene deposits, which provides a resource guarantee for the construction of large lithium ore resource base in western Sichuan. However, China’s long- term shortage of rare metals, such as niobium, tantalum and beryllium, has not yet made a breakthrough in prospecting. In the past, proven resources are often of low grade and difficult to be cleaned and smelted. In fact, a considerable portion of resources belong to “dull ore”; even tin, which used to have advantages in the past, Non- ferrous metals such as antimony, mercury and other non- ferrous metals have also begun to import, the Xikuangshan Sb mine and other world- famous large- scale and super- large- scale deposits have entered the stage of resource depletion, it is difficult to replace resources, and needs to be attached great importance. It is suggested that while strengthening the deep prospecting of existing mines, we should not only continue to overcome the difficult problem of comprehensive utilization of co- associated resources, but also strengthen the research and exploration of unconventional and new types of critical mineral resources (such as the lithium resources associated with sedimentary rocks). We should strengthen the basic research, find a breakthrough in the critical application of the critical mineral resources, and let the critical mineral resources play a critical role at the critical moment.