本文所论及的范围是广义的横断山区，地理位置包括东经97°30′至104°00′，北起于四川与甘肃、青海省接壤带，南至云南省西双版纳与瑞丽一线国境线。在地质构造位置上，包括了横断山区的“三江”构造带以及松潘甘孜褶皱带、川滇南北构造带、盐源丽江台缘褶皱带等构造单元。探明储量全国前三位的矿种有：铁、钒、镍、铂、铜、铅、锌、铍、锗、镉、锆、锂、砷、磷、石棉、蓝石棉、钾盐、岩盐、硅藻土、石榴子石、熔炼水晶、光学萤石、云母等24种。
该区资源最大的特点是：大量的矿床都伴有黑色、有色、贵金属、稀有元素等，它们都具有工业意义，成为经济价值极高的多金属矿床。

Heng Duan moutains is the most important base of minerats for black, colour and valuabie metals together with rare dispered elements etc in China. The mineral of more than 110 types have been found out, it distributed in more than 1600 sites, among the reserves of 24 mineral types for Fe、、V、Ti、Cd、Be、Pt、P asbestos and garnet ect front three Sites in China, the reseryes of Ti and V are 82% and 33% of world reserves respectively. In this area, the minerals reserves are richer, also the types of mineral deposit are more comprehsive. The Characterisitic of mineral resources and Some problems of developing-utilizing are introduced comprehnsively Systematically and cmphtatically ind this paper.