Indium (In) is an important strategic mineral in short supply in the 21st century, which is of great significance to national stability, development and improvement of international competitiveness. China has the most abundant indium resources in the world, but no independent deposit of indium has been discovered. There are 57 associated indium deposits, which have the potential of cadmium (Cd), gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge). Based on a detailed review of the regional distribution, genetic types, formation ages, indium- bearing minerals, independent indium minerals and enrichment regularity of 57 associated indium deposits, we summarized the research status and development direction of indium mineralization. The indium- bearing deposits are highly concentrated in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and South China. There are seven genetic types, including skarn type, magma- hydrothermal type, marine volcanic- rock type, continental volcanic- rock type, superimposed (composite/modified) type, porphyry type, and metamorphosed type. Indium is mainly hosted in sphalerite without exception, and is recycled as by- product. 85% of the indium- bearing deposits were formed in the Mesozoic, with a small number of deposits in the Paleogene and pre- Mesozoic. At present, 19 indium independent minerals have been discovered, only 5 indium independent minerals were found in China. Roquesite (CuInS2) is the most common indium independent mineral that has been found in our country，other indium independent minerals such as natural indium and hydroxindium（InSb）are reported to occur only in specific associated indium deposits. At present, the skarn associated indium deposits, which are located in the southwestern margin of the Yangtze block, get more attention than other deposits. The research of the other six deposit types scattered throughout other areas were studied less. This is a limit not only to understand the indium enrichment mechanism, but also to find out new indium resources. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen the detailed study of typical associated indium deposits and establish a more detailed database.