Xi'an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources (Northwest Center), directly under the China Geological Survey, is mainly responsible for managing the projects of geoscience surveys in northwest China, for organizing and conducting the regional, basic geoscience surveys and research, and the investigations and assessments of strategically mineral resources potential.

　　The Institute has formed its own characteristics and superiority in the research of orogenic belt geology, evaluation of hydrology and environmental geology, mineral resources assessment, regional geological investigations, stratigraphic paleontology, environmental effect assessment, and oil and gas accumulation assessment.