It hosts a large REE deposit with rare earth oxide (REO) resources of 530,000 tons, averaging 0.25% REO. Two rare earth ore bodies mainly occur in the weathering crust at the top of the Zhuopan alkaline complex, measuring 17.35 m and 11.2 m in thickness. On the plane, the shape of the ore bodies resembles the outcrop pattern of the pluton and is controlled by the alkaline complex. The principal rare earth host mineral is fluorapatite, with subordinate monazite and allanite. The Zhuopan alkaline complex consists mainly of diopside syenite, syenite, and minor pyroxenite. Pyroxenites exhibit typical cumulate textures, predominantly composed of diopside (∼95 vol%), apatite (∼3 vol%), biotite (∼2 vol%), with minor Fe-Ti oxides and zircon.

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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.

ⓘ Rare Earths

Mineral List

8 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ 'Cumulate'

ⓘ Pyroxenite

ⓘ Syenite

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Aegirine-augite

Formula: (Na_aCa_bFe²⁺_cMg_d)(Fe³⁺_eAl_fFe²⁺_gMg_h)Si₂O₆

References:

Liu, Zheng; Sun, Lin; Zhang, Wei; Yan, Qing-He; Wang, Guo-Chang; Liu, Hao; Zhang, Han; Yang, Yan (2026) Controls on REE enrichment in post-collisional alkaline rocks by subduction-related metasomatism: insights from the Zhuopan Complex, southeastern Tibetan plateau. Ore Geology Reviews, 196. p.107445. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2026.107445

ⓘ 'Allanite Group'

Formula: (A1²⁺REE³⁺)(M1³⁺M2³⁺M3²⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)

References:

ⓘ 'Apatite'

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃A

References:

ⓘ 'Biotite'

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

References:

ⓘ Diopside

Formula: CaMgSi₂O₆

References:

ⓘ Fluorapatite

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃F

References:

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

ⓘ 'Monazite Group'

Formula: REE(PO₄)

References:

ⓘ Nepheline

Formula: Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)

References:

ⓘ Orthoclase

Formula: K(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

ⓘ Titanite

Formula: CaTi(SiO₄)O

References:

ⓘ Zircon

Formula: Zr(SiO₄)

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Fluorapatite	8.BN.05	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Zircon	9.AD.30	Zr(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Titanite	9.AG.15	CaTi(SiO₄)O
ⓘ	Diopside	9.DA.15	CaMgSi₂O₆
ⓘ	Aegirine-augite	9.DA.20	(Na_aCa_bFe²⁺_cMg_d)(Fe³⁺_eAl_fFe²⁺_gMg_h)Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Nepheline	9.FA.05	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)
ⓘ	Orthoclase	9.FA.30	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Biotite'	-	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
ⓘ	'Monazite Group'	-	REE(PO₄)
ⓘ	'Apatite'	-	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A
ⓘ	'Allanite Group'	-	(A1²⁺REE³⁺)(M1³⁺M2³⁺M3²⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)

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	ⓘ Allanite Group	(A1²⁺REE³⁺)(M1³⁺M2³⁺M3²⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Aegirine-augite	(Na_aCa_bFe_c²⁺Mg_d)(Fe_e³⁺Al_fFe_g²⁺Mg_h)Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
O	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
O	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
O	ⓘ Nepheline	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)
O	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
O	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A
O	ⓘ Allanite Group	(A1²⁺REE³⁺)(M1³⁺M2³⁺M3²⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
F	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Aegirine-augite	(Na_aCa_bFe_c²⁺Mg_d)(Fe_e³⁺Al_fFe_g²⁺Mg_h)Si₂O₆
Na	ⓘ Nepheline	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Aegirine-augite	(Na_aCa_bFe_c²⁺Mg_d)(Fe_e³⁺Al_fFe_g²⁺Mg_h)Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Mg	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Aegirine-augite	(Na_aCa_bFe_c²⁺Mg_d)(Fe_e³⁺Al_fFe_g²⁺Mg_h)Si₂O₆
Al	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	ⓘ Nepheline	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)
Al	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Aegirine-augite	(Na_aCa_bFe_c²⁺Mg_d)(Fe_e³⁺Al_fFe_g²⁺Mg_h)Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Si	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Nepheline	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)
Si	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Si	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Allanite Group	(A1²⁺REE³⁺)(M1³⁺M2³⁺M3²⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
P	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
P	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
K	ⓘ Nepheline	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)
K	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Aegirine-augite	(Na_aCa_bFe_c²⁺Mg_d)(Fe_e³⁺Al_fFe_g²⁺Mg_h)Si₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Fluorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
Ca	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Ca	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Ti	ⓘ Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Aegirine-augite	(Na_aCa_bFe_c²⁺Mg_d)(Fe_e³⁺Al_fFe_g²⁺Mg_h)Si₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Zr	Zirconium
Zr	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AsiaContinent

China

⭔Southwest ChinaRegion

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

Sibumasu TerranePassive Margin

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References

[1]Liu, Zheng; Sun, Lin; Zhang, Wei; Yan, Qing-He; Wang, Guo-Chang; Liu, Hao; Zhang, Han; Yang, Yan (2026) Controls on REE enrichment in post-collisional alkaline rocks by subduction-related metasomatism: insights from the Zhuopan Complex, southeastern Tibetan plateau. Ore Geology Reviews, 196. p.107445. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2026.107445

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Zhuopan alkaline complex, Yongping County, Dali, Yunnan, ChinaiRegional Level TypesZhuopan alkaline complexComplex Yongping CountyCounty DaliPrefecture YunnanProvince 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

Zhuopan alkaline complex, Yongping County, Dali, Yunnan, China i
Regional Level Types
Zhuopan alkaline complex Complex
Yongping County County
Dali Prefecture
Yunnan Province
China Country