Background Sylvite serves as a strategic mineral resource that plays a significant role in ensuring food safety and sustainable agricultural development, with approximately 90% of global potash resources used for potassium fertilizer production. However, developing countries such as China have long faced the challenges of heavy dependence on potash imports and insufficient potash resource continuity. Such a supply and demand framework causes China to speed up research on potash metallogenic patterns and technical innovations in potash exploration. This will help overcome resource bottlenecks.

Objective This study presented a systematic summary of global potash metallogenic models and investigated the approaches of potash exploration in deep and structurally complex areas, aiming to provide theoretical support for improving potash exploration efficiency.

Methods Focusing on the geological settings and conditions of potash mineralization in marine and continental environments, the study analyzed potash enrichment mechanisms from the perspective of key factors, including tectonic activity, evaporation environments, and brine sources. hhFurthermore, this study reviewed the current research status and application progress in the geophysical exploration methods of potash, specifically exhibiting the application effects of geophysical technologies such as gravity, electromagnetic, seismic, and logging methods in potash exploration.

Results and Conclusions Sylvite metallogenic models reflect the coupling effects of multiple factors, including climate, structures, and provenance. Gravity exploration identifies salt dome structures based on density differences. In contrast, electromagnetic methods are sensitive to high-salinity brines, while seismic methods allow for fine-scale characterization of the spatial morphology of potash layers when combined with pre-stack depth migration technology. However, deep concealed ore bodies are shielded by structural deformations, leading to significant attenuation of seismic signals. Furthermore, electromagnetic methods suffer from insufficient vertical resolution in low-resistance areas, while shallow gravity exploration is prone to terrain interference. These challenges still limit the precision and depth of potash exploration. Nevertheless, multidisciplinary integration, the application of intelligent exploration technologies, and in-depth research on potash metallogenic models will contribute to more accurate and efficient exploration and development of potash resources. This provides theoretical bases for breakthroughs in the evaluation of potash resources in global complex basins and offers innovative solutions for deep potash exploration.