Abstract: Old overseas mines are important targets for Chinese enterprise to conduct mining investment and mining exploration outside China.A systematic summary of the prospecting methods of the overseas old mines and their characteristics will help to improve the probability of success.By comparing the different prospecting methods between China and the western countries as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages,more effective prospecting methods with Chinese characteristics are selected,which are geological method,geological research method and the method of exploring near existing deposit.The existing problems of the prospecting method for overseas mines during the operation process have been expounded through comprehensive analysis.The biggest problem is the clear division between geology,geophysics and remote sensing.The second problem is the significant difference of geological prospecting criterion between China and western countries.The last problem is the incompleteness of the geological information for the old overseas mines.Based on this analysis,it is concluded that geological method is the basis and the geological research should be carried out before the others.And it is recommended to conduct more work of remote sensing when prospecting the old overseas mines.