Gypsum

specimen number:
8311279

location:
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Hubei, China

description:
Glassy gemmy crystals of gypsum measuring to 3.0 cm in height coming off matrix. In very good condition for an example such as this for the species.

The Tonglushan Mine, located in Daye within the Hubei Province of China, is an ancient and world-renowned copper-iron skarn deposit with a history of extraction spanning over three thousand years. Geologically, the deposit formed at the contact zone between quartz diorite intrusions and Triassic carbonate rocks, resulting in extensive metasomatic replacement that produced rich ores of copper, iron, and gold. The site is a mineralogical landmark, particularly famous for its superb specimens of malachite, azurite, and native copper found in the oxidation zones. Historically, archaeological evidence shows that mining and smelting activity began as early as the Shang Dynasty (around 1200 BCE) and continued through the Han Dynasty, making it one of the oldest industrial sites in the world. Modern industrial mining commenced in the 1950s under the Daye Nonferrous Metals Company and has continued into the 21st century. Today, while the active mining operations continue to produce significant tonnage, the ancient workings have been preserved as a national museum, highlighting the site as a cradle of Chinese bronze civilization and a premier locality for secondary copper minerals.

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