Gejiu Mine

China · Yunnan
Gejiu, Yunnan, China — the lakeside city at the heart of the historic tin-mining district
Photo: prat · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Gejiu (个旧) in Yunnan is historically known as the "Tin Capital of the World," one of the largest tin-polymetallic districts on Earth. It produces cassiterite, fluorite, calcite, and a suite of sulfide and arsenide minerals.

About Gejiu Mineextended article

The "Tin Capital of the World"

The Gejiu district in southeastern Yunnan is one of the world's largest tin-producing areas, with a mining history reaching back more than two thousand years. The deposits are tin-polymetallic (Sn–Cu–Pb–Zn), formed where granitic intrusions meet carbonate host rocks, producing skarn and replacement ore bodies.

What Gejiu is known for

  • Cassiterite — the primary tin ore, in collectable crystals
  • Purple and green fluorite
  • Calcite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, and löllingite
  • Datolite and other skarn-associated species

Collector value

Sharp cassiterite crystals, saturated fluorite, and well-formed calcite are the value drivers. As with most long-worked Chinese districts, fine crystallised specimens from the classic pockets are increasingly difficult to source at original quality.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Gejiu Mine?

Gejiu Mine is a mineral locality in Yunnan, China.

What minerals are found at Gejiu Mine?

Minerals from Gejiu Mine include Fluorite, Calcite, Arsenopyrite, Datolite, Cassiterite.

What is Gejiu Mine known for?

Gejiu (个旧) in Yunnan is historically known as the "Tin Capital of the World," one of the largest tin-polymetallic districts on Earth. It produces cassiterite, fluorite, calcite, and a suite of sulfide and arsenide minerals.

References & databases

Mindat.org is the world’s largest open mineralogy database.