Abstract: The mineral resources investigation and appraisal project is a job of strategic mineral exploration and appraisal with metallic and nonmetallic minerals as the chief exploration and appraisal targets. It is also a public welfare geological undertaking. Geological material data (drilling cores) have great scientific research value and applied value, so they must be protected and stored in a due way. There are two main reasons for selecting geological material data: first, a great deal of money is needed to store and manage these geological data, and second, large quantities of the same or similar geological material data may be obtained in some scopes. The basic principle for selecting the geological material data is typical, representative and systematic selection. The main method for selecting the geological material data in the mineral resources investigation and appraisal project is to determine metallogenic regions reasonably and then select typical geological data of main mineralization and deposit types in important prospect areas in the metallogenic regions.