庞佩利是近代史上首位在华开展地质考察的西方地质科学家。1863至1865年间，美国地质学家庞佩利对中国的矿产进行了两次专业考察，一次是自费开展的长江沿岸煤矿考察，另一次则是受清政府委托开展的京西地区煤矿资源勘查。中西方档案及庞佩利相关著述较为完整地记录了庞佩利此次来华考察的始末，展现了太平天国占领下长江中下游地区的社会状况以及中英阿思本舰队交易背景下的中美首次煤矿探查合作。由于受到太平天国运动的影响，庞佩利对长江沿岸矿产的考察成果十分有限。京西考察为寻求购买舰船的燃料自给办法，经过考察，庞佩利发现京西确实蕴藏着丰富的煤矿资源，并提出了改进意见，却也因清政府对舰队的解散，煤矿考察被迫终止。庞佩利在华矿业考察成果未能转化成即时效益，反映出洋务运动时期中国士大夫的复杂心态及中国近代化的曲折过程。但庞佩利的考察成果吸引了更多西方人士继续探访中国矿产，推动了中国矿产新知识的形成，奠定了中国矿业近代化的基础。此次在华考察也对庞佩利的职业生涯造成了深刻影响，促使庞佩利更加积极投身于矿学事业以及对亚洲地区的地质考察。

Pumpelly was the first Western geologist to conduct geological surveys in China during modern history. From 1863 to 1865, the American geologist conducted two professional surveys on mineral resources in China. One was a self-funded survey of coal mines along the Yangtze River, and the other was a commissioned exploration of coal mine resources in western Beijing by the Qing government.The archives from both Chinese and Western sources, as well as related writings about Pumpelly, provide a relatively complete record of his survey in China. They reveal the social conditions in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River under Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's occupation and shed light on the first-ever cooperation between China and America regarding coal mine exploration against the backdrop of Sino-British trade negotiations involving osborn fleet.Due to disruptions caused by Taiping Rebellion movement, Pumpelly's findings on mineral resources along the Yangtze River were limited. The survey in western Beijing aimed at finding ways for self-sufficiency in fuel supply for purchasing ships. Through this exploration, Pumpelly discovered abundant coal mine resources in western Beijing and proposed improvement suggestions. However, due to Qing government's decision to disband their fleet, further exploration had to be terminated.The lack of immediate benefits from Pumpelly's mining surveys reflects complex attitudes among Chinese intellectuals during that period known as Self-Strengthening Movement (Yangwu). It also illustrates China's convoluted process towards modernization. Nevertheless, his survey results attracted more Western individuals to visit China for mining purposes and contributed to new knowledge formation regarding Chinese mineral resources. This laid down foundations for modernizing China's mining industry.This survey experience also had a profound impact on Pumpelly's career, prompting him to devote himself more actively to mining and geological exploration in Asia.