History · Geology
About Shangbao Mine
The Shangbao Mine is one of Hunan's most prolific producers of brassy yellow pyrite-on-quartz combinations and translucent orange tooth calcite. The mine's output defines the visual signature most collectors associate with "Chinese pyrite."
Mining History
Industrial pyrite mining at Shangbao dates from the mid-20th century. Specimen-grade material entered the international market through Hunan dealers in the late 1990s and remains in steady production. Pocket finds vary seasonally with mining advance.
Signature Specimens
Cubic and pyritohedral pyrite crystals (often 5-15 cm) on milky quartz beds, with selective overgrowth of calcite scalenohedrons. Aesthetic three-species combinations are routine.
