Yunnan Province
Curated by Maggie Liu · Updated:
About Yunnan Provinceextended article
Yunnan — carbonate color from the southwest
Yunnan Province in southwest China draws on polymetallic Pb-Zn belts and, at Tengchong, a young volcanic field. Its collector signature is colorful secondary minerals: sky-blue hemimorphite, cobalt-pink calcite, fibrous rhodochrosite, and blue aragonite.
What Yunnan is known for
- Botryoidal sky-blue hemimorphite
- Cobaltoan calcite, often paired with hemimorphite
- Fibrous pink rhodochrosite
- Blue aragonite needle clusters
- Lemon-yellow sulfur from the Tengchong volcanic area
- Calcite and quartz from workings such as the Lanwen Mine
Typical specimen style
Color-first material: saturated blues and pinks in botryoidal, fibrous, and needle habits. Combination pairs — cobaltoan calcite with hemimorphite — are a Yunnan specialty.
Collector value
Hemimorphite color saturation sets the price ladder; undamaged botryoidal crusts with deep sky-blue tone lead. Tengchong sulfur offers sharp crystals at entry-level prices.
From our inventory
Browse Yunnan specimens or the hemimorphite guide.
Gejiu and the tin district
Alongside its colourful secondary minerals, Yunnan is one of China's principal tin provinces. The Gejiu field in the south-east — long called the tin capital of China, with ore areas such as Malage, Songshujiao, Laochang and Kafang — yields cassiterite as its main ore, and well-crystallised cassiterite on matrix from Gejiu is sought after by collectors. The Dongchuan district to the north is an important copper area.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Yunnan Province?
Yunnan Province is a mineral locality in Yunnan, China. It lies at approximately 24.5000°N, 101.5000°E.
What minerals are found at Yunnan Province?
Signature minerals from Yunnan Province include Hemimorphite, Calcite, Aragonite, Rhodochrosite, Sulfur, Quartz. The locality lies in Yunnan, China, and each mineral links to a full reference entry with formula, crystal system, and collector notes.
What is Yunnan Province known for?
Yunnan Province, southwest China — source of cobaltoan calcite, fibrous rhodochrosite, hemimorphite pairs, and schorl from its polymetallic belts.
Specimens from Yunnan Province
Botryoidal Aragonite/Calcite — Yunnan, China
Hydrozincite with Possible Celestine — Dali, Yunnan, China
Sky-Blue Aragonite Velvet Crust, Yunnan, China
Cobaltoan Calcite and Hemimorphite Pair, Yunnan, China
Blue Hemimorphite Crystal Cluster – Yunnan, China
Sky-Blue Hemimorphite Crystal Fans, Yunnan, China
Sky-Blue Aragonite Cluster on Matrix, Yunnan
Black Tourmaline (Schorl) Cluster – Yunnan, China
Pale Blue Azurite Crust with White Zones, Yunnan, China
Rhodochrosite and Hemimorphite Pair – Yunnan, China
Purple Rhodochrosite – Fibrous Form – Yunnan Province, China
Quartz Cluster – Columnar with Druzy Cap – Yunnan Province, China
Aragonite – Goblet Form – Ribbed Texture – Yunnan Province, China
Sky Blue Hemimorphite – Botryoidal Form – Yunnan Province, China
Sulfur Crystals – Lemon Yellow – Tengchong, Yunnan Province, China
Blue Hemimorphite Crystal Cluster – Yunnan Province, China
White Calcite Rhombohedral Cluster – Lanwen Mine, Yunnan, China
Brick-Red Calcite Crystal, Lanwen Mine, Yunnan
Celestite Crystals, Yunnan Origin
Quartz Crystal, Lanwen Mine, Yunnan, China
