Wushan Spessartine Mine

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Tongbei, Yunxiao Co., Zhangzhou, Fujian, China

乌山锰铝榴石矿, 通北, 云霄县, 漳州市, 福建省, 中国

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Key Information

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  • Wushan Spessartine Mine is in Tongbei, Yunxo County, Zhangzhou, Fujian, China, part of the Wuyi Mountains.

  • Known for Spessartine garnets, with crystals often red-orange and gemmy, alongside other minerals like smoky quartz.

  • The area is now a protected national park, so mineral collecting is prohibited.

  • Surprisingly, the mine was initially misidentified, with its true location revealed in 2001.

Geographic Location

The Wushan Spessartine Mine is nestled in Tongbei, a quaint town in Yunxo County, Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, China, at coordinates 23° 54' 21'' North, 117° 11' 53'' East. This location is within the breathtaking Wuyi Mountains, a protected national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its scenic beauty and biodiversity. The nearest settlements, Huanggang and Chenghua, are about 32.5 km and 65.9 km away, respectively, with populations of 225,956 and 152,453.

Minerals Produced

This mine is celebrated for its Spessartine, a manganese-rich garnet, often displaying a vibrant red-orange hue and gemmy quality. These crystals are frequently found with smoky quartz, feldspar, and other minerals including Albite, Beryl, Calcite, Clinochlore, Fluorite, Helvine, Hematite, Manganite, Microcline, Milarite, Molybdenite, Muscovite, Opal, Orthoclase, Pyrite, Schorl, and Topaz, making it a treasure trove for mineral enthusiasts.

Geological and Historical Context

The mine lies within granitic rocks from late Mesozoic intrusions, part of an 800 km long Cretaceous granitic belt in southeastern China. Minerals form in miarolitic cavities within the granite, a fascinating geological feature. Mining began in the late 1990s, initially misidentified as from Lechang, Guangdong, with the true location revealed by 2001. However, it's now a protected area, prohibiting mineral collection, which adds to its allure as a preserved natural site.

Citations