Ilvaite

specimen number:
8311241

location:
Huanggang Mines, Inner Mongolia, China

description:
A grouping of lustrous prismatic ilvaite crystals without matrix. This is in good condition.

The Huanggang Mine (Huanggangliang), located in the Hexigten Banner of Inner Mongolia, China, is a massive skarn deposit famous for producing the world's finest ilvaite specimens. Geologically, the deposit formed through the metasomatic interaction between Mesozoic granitic intrusions and Paleozoic carbonate rocks, creating a complex mineral suite enriched in iron, tin, and zinc. The ilvaite from this locality occurs as magnificent, jet-black, lustrous prismatic crystals that are often deeply striated and can reach sizes exceeding 10 centimeters. These crystals frequently appear in aesthetic associations with green quartz (prase), fluorite, and hedenbergite. Historically, while the region was known for iron ore, large-scale mining operations specifically targeting the Huanggangliang iron-tin complex began in the early 2000s. The site gained international mineralogical fame around 2010 when extraordinary pockets of well-crystallized minerals were first encountered by miners. Today, the mine remains a major active industrial producer and continues to be the definitive global source for high-quality ilvaite, with specimens characterized by their sharp terminations and brilliant metallic luster.

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