Shilu Cu-Fe Mine, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong, Chinai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Shilu Cu-Fe Mine | Open-Cast Mine (Flooded) |
| Yangchun Co. | County |
| Yangjiang | Prefecture-level City |
| Guangdong | Province |
| China | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
22° 10' 19'' North , 111° 38' 43'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Open-Cast Mine (Flooded) - last checked 2020
Age:
358.9 ± 0.4 to 298.9 ± 0.15 Ma
Geologic Time:
Köppen climate type:
Name(s) in local language(s):
石菉铜(钼)矿, 阳春市, 阳江市, 广东省, 中国
Skarn-type copper-(molybdenum) deposit, hosted within a karst area in Carboniferous strata contacting a granitoid intrusion. The ore bodies are largely oxidized; malachite is the main ore mineral.
The Shilu Copper Mine, located near Yangchun City in southwest Guangdong, is a historic site with mining activities dating back 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty. It was developed into a large-scale open-cut operation in the 1960s, reaching peak production in the 1970s. Although the mine was abandoned in 1998 after resources were exhausted, it remains famous among collectors for the high-quality specimens recovered during its operation.
Geologically, Shilu is a unique hydrothermal deposit formed within a karst zone of Carboniferous limestone. The copper and iron mineralization developed extensive oxidized belts, which produced world-class specimens of malachite and azurite. For decades, these minerals were primarily processed as industrial ore, but they are now highly valued as collectibles. The site is easily reached, located just 10 km from Yangchun City near the Sanshui-Maoming Railway.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
23 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Cuprite | 4.AA.10 | Cu2O |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Zircon | 9.AD.30 | Zr(SiO4) |
| ⓘ | Titanite | 9.AG.15 | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Diopside | 9.DA.15 | CaMgSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | Magnesio-hornblende | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Tschermakite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| ⓘ | Orthoclase | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | var. Andesine | 9.FA.35 | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| ⓘ | Anorthite | 9.FA.35 | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| ⓘ | var. Labradorite | 9.FA.35 | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Garnet Group' | - | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| ⓘ | '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 | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| H | ⓘ Magnesio-hornblende | ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Tschermakite | ◻Ca2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Allanite Group | (A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Albite var. Andesine | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| O | ⓘ Anorthite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| O | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] |
| O | ⓘ Magnesio-hornblende | ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Tschermakite | ◻Ca2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| O | ⓘ Allanite Group | (A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Albite var. Andesine | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Na | ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Magnesio-hornblende | ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Tschermakite | ◻Ca2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Albite var. Andesine | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Al | ⓘ Anorthite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Al | ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] |
| Al | ⓘ Magnesio-hornblende | ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Tschermakite | ◻Ca2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Albite var. Andesine | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Si | ⓘ Anorthite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] |
| Si | ⓘ Magnesio-hornblende | ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Tschermakite | ◻Ca2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Allanite Group | (A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Albite var. Andesine | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Ca | ⓘ Anorthite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] |
| Ca | ⓘ Magnesio-hornblende | ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Ca | ⓘ Tschermakite | ◻Ca2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Cu | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Zr | Zirconium | |
| Zr | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
Geochronology
Mineralization age: Phanerozoic : 323.2 ± 0.4 Ma to 107 ± 0.72 MaImportant note: This table is based only on rock and mineral ages recorded on mindat.org for this locality and is not necessarily a complete representation of the geochronology, but does give an indication of possible mineralization events relevant to this locality. As more age information is added this table may expand in the future. A break in the table simply indicates a lack of data entered here, not necessarily a break in the geologic sequence. Grey background entries are from different, related, localities.
| Geologic Time | Rocks, Minerals and Events | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phanerozoic | ||||||||||
| Mesozoic | ||||||||||
| Cretaceous | ||||||||||
| Early/Lower Cretaceous |
| |||||||||
| Paleozoic | ||||||||||
| Carboniferous | ||||||||||
| Pennsylvanian |
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Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AsiaContinent
China
- Qin–Hang metallogenic beltMineral Belt
Eurasian Plate
- West CathaysiaOrogenic Belt
Yangtze PlateTectonic 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
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References
Zheng, Wei; Mao, Jing-wen; Pirajno, Franco; Zhao, Hai-jie; Zhao, Cai-sheng; Mao, Zhi-hao; Wang, Yong-jian (2015) Geochronology and geochemistry of the Shilu Cu–Mo deposit in the Yunkai area, Guangdong Province, South China and its implication. Ore Geology Reviews, 67. 382-398 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2014.12.009
Shilu Cu-Fe Mine, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong, China