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Hegenshan Ophiolite, West Ujimqin Banner (Xiwuzhumuqin Co.), Xilingol League (Xilinguole Prefecture), Inner Mongolia, Chinai
Regional Level Types
Hegenshan OphioliteComplex
West Ujimqin Banner (Xiwuzhumuqin Co.)County
Xilingol League (Xilinguole Prefecture)Prefecture
Inner MongoliaAutonomous Region
ChinaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
44° 42' 17'' North , 116° 22' 54'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
44.70476,116.38176
GRN:
N30E61
Type:
Complex
Köppen climate type:
BSk : Cold semi-arid (steppe) climate
Mindat Locality ID:
143949
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:143949:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


The Hegenshan ophiolite is a remnant of oceanic lithosphere of probable Devonian age. The ophiolite consists of several blocks composed chiefly of serpentinized ultramafic rocks with lesser amounts of troctolite and gabbro, and sparse lavas and dikes. The ultramafic rocks consist chiefly of depleted harzburgite and minor dunite and are interpreted as mantle tectonites. Dunite is relatively abundant in the Hegenshan block and is typically associated with podiform chromitite. Several blocks have well-layered cumulate sequences of gabbro and troctolite. Sheeted dikes are absent but small mafic dikes are common in some of the ultramafic sections. Most of the mafic dikes have flat chondrite-normalized REE patterns and are strongly depleted in incompatible elements, similar to depleted tholeiites from immature island arcs. The basaltic lavas of the Hegenshan ophiolite have two distinctly different chemical signatures—one similar to the mafic dikes and one similar to ocean island basalts. The entire complex was probably formed within an island arc–marginal basin system that was later accreted to the southern margin of the Siberian Altaids.

The Hegenshan ophiolite belt, forming the southern boundary of the Erguna Block, extends > 400 km along NE orientation with discontinuous outcrops in Erenhot-Hegenshan districts. This belt constitutes an assemblage of more than 30 mafic–ultramafic units, with major chromitite concentrations clustered in its central segment. Lithologically, serpentinized harzburgites dominate the Hegenshan block, exhibiting elongated orthopyroxene and spinel grains defining penetrative NE-striking foliation. The central-southern sector hosts over 1,600 lenticular dunite bodies whose long axes demonstrate systematic alignment with host peridotite foliation. Chromitite mineralization preferentially occurs as podiform ore bodies spatially associated with these dunites. Total chromitite reserves in the Hegenshan ophiolite are estimated at ∼ 200 Mt.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

35 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Anatase
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Augite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Cassiterite
Formula: SnO2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.
ⓘ 'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Clinochlore
Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore
Formula: Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Diamond
Formula: C
ⓘ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
ⓘ Enstatite
Formula: Mg2Si2O6
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
ⓘ Forsterite
Formula: Mg2(SiO4)
ⓘ Glauberite
Formula: Na2Ca(SO4)2
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ Iowaite
Formula: Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O
ⓘ Jadeite
Formula: Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Magnesiochromite
Formula: MgCr2O4
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Millerite
Formula: NiS
ⓘ Moissanite
Formula: SiC
ⓘ 'Monazite Group'
Formula: REE(PO4)
ⓘ Nepheline
Formula: Na3K(Al4Si4O16)
ⓘ Orthoclase
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Pargasite
Formula: NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
ⓘ Phlogopite
Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrope
Formula: Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Titanite
Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘ Uvarovite
Formula: Ca3Cr3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Vesuvianite
Formula: Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘDiamond1.CB.10aC
ⓘMoissanite1.DA.SiC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘMillerite2.CC.20NiS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘMagnesiochromite4.BB.05MgCr2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘCassiterite4.DB.05SnO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
ⓘAnatase4.DD.05TiO2
ⓘIowaite4.FL.05Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘGlauberite7.AD.25Na2Ca(SO4)2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘForsterite9.AC.05Mg2(SiO4)
ⓘPyrope9.AD.25Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘUvarovite9.AD.25Ca3Cr3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘTitanite9.AG.15CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘVesuvianite9.BG.35Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
ⓘEnstatite9.DA.05Mg2Si2O6
ⓘAugite9.DA.15(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘDiopside9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
ⓘJadeite9.DA.25Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
ⓘPargasite9.DE.15NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘPhlogopite9.EC.20KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘClinochlore9.EC.55Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘvar. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore9.EC.55Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
ⓘNepheline9.FA.05Na3K(Al4Si4O16)
ⓘOrthoclase9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Monazite Group'-REE(PO4)
ⓘ'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'-
ⓘ'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ IowaiteMg6Fe23+(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O
Hⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing ClinochloreMg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
Hⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Hⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ VesuvianiteCa19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DiamondC
Cⓘ MoissaniteSiC
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ AnataseTiO2
Oⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ CassiteriteSnO2
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Oⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ ForsteriteMg2(SiO4)
Oⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ IowaiteMg6Fe23+(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O
Oⓘ JadeiteNa(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
Oⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing ClinochloreMg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
Oⓘ MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Oⓘ NephelineNa3K(Al4Si4O16)
Oⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Oⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Oⓘ UvaroviteCa3Cr23+(SiO4)3
Oⓘ VesuvianiteCa19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Naⓘ JadeiteNa(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
Naⓘ NephelineNa3K(Al4Si4O16)
Naⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Mgⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Mgⓘ ForsteriteMg2(SiO4)
Mgⓘ IowaiteMg6Fe23+(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O
Mgⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing ClinochloreMg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
Mgⓘ MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4
Mgⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Mgⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgⓘ VesuvianiteCa19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ JadeiteNa(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
Alⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing ClinochloreMg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
Alⓘ NephelineNa3K(Al4Si4O16)
Alⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Alⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Alⓘ VesuvianiteCa19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Siⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ ForsteriteMg2(SiO4)
Siⓘ JadeiteNa(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
Siⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing ClinochloreMg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
Siⓘ MoissaniteSiC
Siⓘ NephelineNa3K(Al4Si4O16)
Siⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Siⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Siⓘ UvaroviteCa3Cr23+(SiO4)3
Siⓘ VesuvianiteCa19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
SSulfur
Sⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ MilleriteNiS
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
ClChlorine
Clⓘ IowaiteMg6Fe23+(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O
KPotassium
Kⓘ NephelineNa3K(Al4Si4O16)
Kⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Kⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ GlauberiteNa2Ca(SO4)2
Caⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Caⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Caⓘ UvaroviteCa3Cr23+(SiO4)3
Caⓘ VesuvianiteCa19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ AnataseTiO2
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
Tiⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing ClinochloreMg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8
Crⓘ MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4
Crⓘ UvaroviteCa3Cr23+(SiO4)3
FeIron
Feⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ IowaiteMg6Fe23+(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O
Feⓘ JadeiteNa(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ VesuvianiteCa19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
NiNickel
Niⓘ MilleriteNiS
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
SnTin
Snⓘ CassiteriteSnO2

Localities in this Region

China

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Amur PlateTectonic Plate
AsiaContinent
Eurasian Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Qin, Zhengyong (1976) Geological problems of a chromite deposit in Inner Mongolia. Geology and Prospecting, 12 (7). 21-29
Zhou, Mei-fu, Bai, Wen-ji (1992) Chromite deposits in China and their origin. Mineralium Deposita, 27 (3). 192-199 doi:10.1007/BF00202542
Bai, Wen-ji, Li, Hang (1993) A study on the chemical composition of mineral inclusions in chromite from the Hegenshan ophiolite massif, Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Mineralogica Sinica, 13 (3). 204-213
Robinson, P.T., Zhou, Mei-fu, Hu, Xu-Feng, Reynolds, P., Bai, Wenji, Yang, Jingsui (1999) Geochemical constraints on the origin of the Hegenshan Ophiolite, Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 17 (4). 423-442 doi:10.1016/S1367-9120(99)00016-4
Nozaka, Toshio, Liu, Yan (2002) Petrology of the Hegenshan ophiolite and its implication for the tectonic evolution of northern China. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 202 (1). 89-104
Zhu, HUANG, Jingsui, YANG, ROBINSON, Paul T., Yongwang, ZHU, Fahui, XIONG, Zhao, LIU, Zhongming, ZHANG, Wei, XU (2015) The Discovery of Diamonds in Chromitites of the Hegenshan Ophiolite, Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition, 89 (2) 341-350 doi:10.1111/1755-6724.12434
[1]Yuan, Qiuyun, Rui, Huichao, Bo, Rongzhong, Lian, Dongyang, Cai, Pengjie, Wu, Yue, Parlak, Osman, Dou, Haoran, Ma, Haitao, Masoud, Ahmed E. (2025) Petrology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of major podiform chromite deposits in China: Implications for their genesis. Ore Geology Reviews, 179. 106508 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106508
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