Abstract: Objectives New quality productive forces represent the evolutionary direction of advanced productivity. They are an advanced form of productivity spurred by revolutionary technological breakthroughs, innovative allocation of production factors, and the deep transformation and upgrading of industries. Analyzing the opportunities and challenges that the introduction of new quality productive forces brings to geological work is of great significance for the sustainable development of this field. Methods Proceeding from the concept and connotations of new quality productive forces, this study outlines the new demands they place on geological work. From the perspective of international trends in geological work, it draws on relevant experience to show how the development of new quality productive forces can advance the field. Integrating this with the current realities of geological work in China, the paper proposes key areas of focus for fostering new quality productive forces within geological work. Results The development of new quality productive forces requires the following from geological work: (1) Supplying the mineral resources necessary for the development of strategic emerging industries. (2) Providing new spatial resources to support the growth of new business formats and models. (3) Driving continuous innovation in geological science and technology to foster new industries and business formats. (4) Establishing a new paradigm for digital geological work. (5) Developing a new system for geological work that is adapted to new quality productive forces. Conclusions Based on the development of new quality productive forces, this paper proposes the main focal points for the future of China's geological work: First, focus on the development of emerging industries to provide resource security for new quality productive forces. Second, focus on green development to offer geological services for the energy transition. Third, concentrate on strategic and cutting-edge scientific and technological fields to accelerate breakthroughs in the "Six Great Strategic Technologies." Fourth, guided by the goal of enhancing efficiency, expedite the research, development, and application of new technologies and methods. Fifth, aiming to meet the developmental needs of new quality productive forces, improve and refine the institutional and managerial mechanisms of geological work.