History · Geology
About Yaogangxian Mine
Yaogangxian is the most influential Chinese mineral locality of the modern era. Originally a tungsten and tin operation, it became a global reference for fluorite, calcite, wolframite, and arsenopyrite once collectors began recognizing the aesthetic quality of pocket finds in the 1990s.
Mining History
Mining at Yaogangxian began in the late 19th century for tungsten ore. Industrial-scale specimen recovery started in the early 2000s when international dealers established direct relationships with miners. The site has since produced what are widely regarded as the world's finest fluorite specimens — often green-blue cubes on pristine quartz matrices.
Signature Specimens
Sharp green-blue fluorite cubes (3-15 cm), gemmy gold-orange "tooth" calcite scalenohedrons, jet-black wolframite blades, and bornite-coated chalcopyrite. Combination specimens with multiple species in a single pocket are a Yaogangxian hallmark.
Minerals Produced Here
- Agate (玛瑙)
- Amethyst (紫水晶)
- Arsenopyrite (毒砂矿)
- Bismuthinite (辉铋矿)
- Boulangerite (硫锑铅矿)
- Bournonite (车轮矿)
- Chalcedony (玉髓)
- Chalcopyrite (黄铜矿)
- Citrine (黄水晶)
- Ferberite (钨铁矿)
- Fluorite (萤石)
- Inesite (叶状硅锰钙石)
- Jamesonite (脆硫锑铅矿)
- Jasper (碧玉)
- Pyromorphite (磷氯铅矿)
- Quartz (石英 / 水晶)
- Rose Quartz (玫瑰石英)
- Sphalerite (闪锌矿)
- Wolframite (黑钨矿)
