Sichuan province is rich in mineral resources and relatively complete regarding variety, so mines of energy, black metal, non-ferrous metals, rare metals, chemicals, construction materials and other resources are all distributed in Sichuan. 132 kinds of metal and non-metal minerals have been found, accounting for 70% of the total in China regarding types. 94 kinds, accounting for 60% of the total in the nation, have been proved with considerable reserves, and are distributed in most parts of the province.

Sichuan has 32 kinds of mineral reserves in the country's top 5, including 7 kinds of mines of natural gas, titanium ore, vanadium ore, pyrite and others ranking top in the country. Vanadium and titanium have world significance, with titanium reserves accounting for 82% of the world's total, and vanadium reserves accounting for 1/3 of the world's total. 11 kinds of minerals, including lithium, Glauber’s salt and others, rank second in the country. 5 kinds of minerals, including platinum series metals, iron ore and others, rank third in the country. 8 kinds of minerals, including dolomite for magnesium smelting, light rare earth ore and other, rank fourth in the country. Phosphorus reserve rank fifth in the country.

Sichuan mineral resources have the following characteristics:

First, the total amount of resources is rich, but the per capita occupancy is lower than the national level. The types of resources are complete, but majority of mineral reserves are insufficient. With the exception of vanadium titanium magnetite, salt, mirabilite, lead and zinc, sulfur, iron ore, asbestos, mica, gold, phosphorus, limestone and other reserves meeting the development needs, most mineral resources are faced with problems of insufficient quantity, poor quality and low cover of proved mineral area.

Second, relatively concentrated distribution is conducive to the formation of an integrated base of mineral raw materials. For example, southwest region of Sichuan is advantaged in ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and rare earth resources, making it one of China's metallurgical bases. South Sichuan is rich both in quantity and variety in non-metallic minerals like coal, sulfur, phosphorus, rock salt, natural gas, making it one of China's chemical industry bases. Northwest Sichuan is rich in rare metals (lithium, beryllium, gold, silver) and energy minerals (uranium, peat), making it the material supply base for potential cutting-edge technological products.

Third, there are many associated and facilitated minerals, which have important integrated utilization value. For example, vanadium-titanium magnetite in Panxi area is one of the three famous associated mines for integrated utilization in China.

Fourth, the majority of mineral reserves have been proved to be poor, and only a small portion of the reserves are proven rich.  Apart from the slightly high level for minerals of lead, zinc, cadmium, silver, rock salt and glauberite, other minerals are mostly at the intermediate or lean levels.