Algoma-type iron deposit, consisting of layered bodies concordant to their host rocks of chlorite schist, micaschist, phyllite and quartzite of the Anshan Group. The layers are up to 300 m thick and 15 km long.

The ore-hosting formation of the Qidashan iron deposit is the Yingtaoyuan Formation of the Neoarchean Anshan Group. The Yingtaoyuan Formation comprise mainly sericite-chlorite schist, mica quartzite, and chlorite schist. This formation experienced greenschist-phase metamorphism. The main body of the Qidashan iron deposit is a low-grade iron ore layer striking NW and dipping SW, with dip angles ranging from 75° to 90°, and the layer is approximately 5000 m in length and 170 to 250 m in thickness. The deposit also contains oxidized near-surface ore bodies dominated by hematite and primary magnetite at depth.

The Qidashan iron deposit has been mined since 1918, with proven iron ore reserves reaching 1.641 billion tons as of 2008. However, Li et al. first documented altered rock (including greisen and chlorite rock)-hosted Nb-Ta mineralization associated with high-grade iron ore within the deposit. Samples collected from this zone yielded an average Nb-Ta grade of 0.019%, indicating significant exploration potential. The outcrop strata in the Qidashan iron deposit mainly consist of the Yingtaoyuan Formation of the Neoarchean Anshan Group, the Langzishan Formation of the Lower Paleoproterozoic Liaohe Group, and the Quaternary. The iron ore bodies, including the low-grade banded iron formations (BIFs) and high-grade ore bodies, are all hosted in the Yingtaoyuan Formation. The Nb-Ta mineralization within the greisens and chlorites are characterized by columbite-group minerals (CGMs), which are spatially associated with high-grade iron ores. The geological–geochemical profile indicates that the greisens are all Nb-Ta-mineralized, which can be divided into greisen and tourmaline greisen based on their mineral compositions, and tourmaline unevenly aggregate in the central zone of the greisen in the profile.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Iron

Mineral List

8 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Banded iron formation

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Biotite'

Formula: K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂

References:

Xiao, Yang; Gao, Rongzhen; Sun, Qing; Fu, Jianfei; Yao, Yuzeng; Jia, Sanshi; Chen, Jiale (2026) Geological Characteristics and Genesis of the Greisen-Hosted Nb-Ta Mineralization in the Qidashan Iron Deposit, Liaoning Province, China, and Its Implications. Minerals, 16 (3). doi:10.3390/min16030312

ⓘ Bismuthinite

Formula: Bi₂S₃

References:

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

Jia, Sanshi; Fu, Jianfei; Leng, Wenfang; Cui, Shengnan; Zhao, Binbo; Meng, Jiaqi (2026) Identification and location of high-grade iron deposits in the Anshan-Benxi area, China, using integrated geophysical techniques. Ore Geology Reviews, 188. 107056 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.107056

ⓘ 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'

References:

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

Baofeng Shen, Anmin Zhai, Chunliang Yang, and Xiulan Cao (2005): Geological Survey and Research 28(4), 196-206

ⓘ Hematite var. Martite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

wrgis.wr.usgs.gov (2004) http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of03-220/DATABASE/lode_deposits.txt

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

Baofeng Shen, Anmin Zhai, Chunliang Yang, and Xiulan Cao (2005): Geological Survey and Research 28(4), 196-206

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Native Bismuth

Formula: Bi

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Baofeng Shen, Anmin Zhai, Chunliang Yang, and Xiulan Cao (2005): Geological Survey and Research 28(4), 196-206

ⓘ 'Tourmaline'

Formula: AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z

References:

ⓘ Uraninite

Formula: UO₂

References:

ⓘ 'Xenotime'

References:

ⓘ Zircon

Formula: Zr(SiO₄)

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Bismuth	1.CA.05	Bi
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Bismuthinite	2.DB.05	Bi₂S₃
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	var. Martite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Uraninite	4.DL.05	UO₂
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Zircon	9.AD.30	Zr(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Muscovite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	var. Sericite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Biotite'	-	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Tourmaline'	-	AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z
ⓘ	'Xenotime'	-
ⓘ	'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
B	Boron
B	ⓘ Tourmaline	AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Hematite var. Martite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Tourmaline	AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z
O	ⓘ Uraninite	UO₂
O	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Bismuthinite	Bi₂S₃
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Mn	Manganese
Mn	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Hematite var. Martite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
Zr	Zirconium
Zr	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Nb	Niobium
Nb	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
Bi	Bismuth
Bi	ⓘ Native Bismuth	Bi
Bi	ⓘ Bismuthinite	Bi₂S₃
U	Uranium
U	ⓘ Uraninite	UO₂

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AsiaContinent

China

North China OrogenOrogen

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

North China Craton
- Longgang BlockShield

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References

Baofeng Shen, Anmin Zhai, Chunliang Yang, and Xiulan Cao (2005): Temporal-spatial distribution and evolutional characters of Precambrian iron deposits in China. Geological Survey and Research 28(4), 196-206.

[1]Jia, Sanshi; Fu, Jianfei; Leng, Wenfang; Cui, Shengnan; Zhao, Binbo; Meng, Jiaqi (2026) Identification and location of high-grade iron deposits in the Anshan-Benxi area, China, using integrated geophysical techniques. Ore Geology Reviews, 188. 107056 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.107056

[2]Xiao, Yang; Gao, Rongzhen; Sun, Qing; Fu, Jianfei; Yao, Yuzeng; Jia, Sanshi; Chen, Jiale (2026) Geological Characteristics and Genesis of the Greisen-Hosted Nb-Ta Mineralization in the Qidashan Iron Deposit, Liaoning Province, China, and Its Implications. Minerals, 16 (3). doi:10.3390/min16030312

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Qidashan Fe Mine, Qianshan District, Anshan, Liaoning, ChinaiRegional Level TypesQidashan Fe MineMine Qianshan DistrictDistrict AnshanPrefecture-level City LiaoningProvince ChinaCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Commodity List

Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

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Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Qidashan Fe Mine, Qianshan District, Anshan, Liaoning, China i
Regional Level Types
Qidashan Fe Mine Mine
Qianshan District District
Anshan Prefecture-level City
Liaoning Province
China Country