Background The exploitation of mineral resources inevitably leads to ecological environmental damage, and Green exploration is the source and foundation for the green development of mineral resources. The current connotation of Green exploration refers to activities that avoid, eliminate or reduce ecological pollution and damage caused by exploration operations, as well as remediate ecological damage generated in the exploration process. Nevertheless, the connotation of Green exploration should not only focus on environmentally friendly exploration activities itself; it shall also provide geological guarantees for Mine ecological restoration after mineral extraction.

New connotation Accordingly, this study firstly proposes the New connotation of Green exploration: activities oriented to the demands of Mine ecological restoration that provide geological guarantees for basic Mine ecological restoration work, including lithostratigraphic eco-suitability assessment, and the prediction of potential ecological damage and environmental risks during mineral resource development. The specific contents of the three components within the New connotation of Green exploration are elaborated separately. In terms of lithostratigraphic eco-suitability assessment, additional ecological parameters (such as the twelve parameters proposed by the United States) should be analyzed through drilling in the exploration stage, laying a foundation for ecological reconstruction of open-pit Dump. In the prediction of ecological damage, geomechanical parameters, hydrogeological parameters and other relevant data obtained during exploration can be used to predict the potential types and general scope of mine ecological damage, which provides directional guidance for setting ecological restoration targets. In the prediction of environmental risks, supplementary analysis of pollutant parameters shall be carried out in the exploration phase. This lays a solid basis for accurately identifying pollution sources after mining, formulating corresponding prevention and control measures, and selecting ecological restoration objectives. It is suggested to add a special chapter entitled Geological Support for Mining Environmental Impacts and Ecological Restoration. The exploration results corresponding to the three core dimensions of the New connotation of Green exploration (eco-suitability, ecological damage and environmental risks) shall be taken as key contents of this chapter, enabling geological exploration reports to become comprehensive technical documents supporting Mine ecological restoration.

Conclusion The New connotation of Green exploration for Mine ecological restoration is an inevitable outcome under the dual requirements of ecological civilization construction and high-quality development of the mining industry. It embeds Mine ecological restoration demands into the exploration process in advance and realizes close linkage between geological prospecting and Mine ecological restoration.

Prospect  Future research on Green exploration can be further deepened and expanded around core directions, including geological sample collection for Mine ecological restoration, lithostratigraphic testing index system, and boundary definition for the prediction of ecological damage and environmental risks. Continuous efforts will be made to improve the Green exploration technical system tailored to Mine ecological restoration.