Ilvaite

specimen number:
8311355

location:
Huanggang Mines, Inner Mongolia, China

description:
A cluster of blocky terminated crystals of ilvaite. In terrific condition all around and quite choice for the species. Small crystals of quartz are scattered across the tops of the terminations.

The Huanggang Mines, located in the Hexigten Banner of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China, comprise a massive iron-tin skarn deposit situated along the southern margin of the Great Hinggan Range. Geologically, the deposit formed during the Late Yanshanian period when Mesozoic granite intrusions interacted with Permian limestone and marble, creating a series of seven distinct mining zones. This contact metamorphism produced a spectacular array of silicate and sulfide minerals, most notably the world's finest specimens of ilvaite. The ilvaite from this locality is characterized by large, lustrous, jet-black prismatic crystals that often exhibit exceptional termination and size, far surpassing previous historical finds. Historically, exploration in the region intensified in the late 20th century, with large-scale commercial production of iron and tin commencing around 2008. While primarily an industrial source for magnetite and cassiterite, the mine remains a premier global locality for mineral collectors due to the consistent discovery of high-quality ilvaite, genthelvite, and boron-bearing silicates.

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