Shizhuyuan Mine

📍 Location

  • The Shizhuyuan Mine is located in southern China, in Chenzhou city area, Hunan Province. Mindat+2zh.mindat.org+2
  • More precisely, the mine sits in the “Dongpo ore field,” in Yizhang County (ćźœç« ćŽż), about 15–16 km southeast of Chenzhou city center. zh.mindat.org+2MDPI+2
  • Coordinates: roughly 25.77028° N, 113.17472° E. Mindat+1

Mineral Resources & Geology

  • Shizhuyuan is a polymetallic deposit — historically, it’s considered among the largest tungsten (W)–polymetallic deposits in China (and globally). Zendy+2zh.mindat.org+2
  • The primary ores mined there include:
    • Tungsten (W) — typically as scheelite and wolframite. Mindat+2Zendy+2
    • Molybdenum (Mo), Bismuth (Bi), Tin (Sn), and sometimes Beryllium (Be). Mindat+2zh.mindat.org+2
    • Fluorite (CaF₂) — the mine also contains significant fluorite deposits. Wikipedia+2Cinf+2
    • In the wider ore‑field, there are also occurrences of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag) — and historically some gold (Au) from Ag-Au alloys in associated Pb–Zn–Ag ore bodies. Mindat+1
  • Geologically, the deposit is hosted where a granite intrusion (the Qianlishan granite complex) contacts older carbonate and sedimentary rocks (Devonian limestone, shale, etc.). Mineralization includes skarn, greisen and stockwork zones — a classic “granite‑skarn‑polymetallic” system. MDPI+2Mindat+2
  • This geological complexity gives rise to a diverse mineral assemblage and multiple ore zones with different mineralization styles (skarn, greisen, veins/veinlets). Mindat+2Zendy+2

Reserves & Scale

  • According to data, ore reserves (or at least earlier reserve estimates) include: ~750,000 tonnes of WO₃‑ore, 490,000 tonnes of tin ore, 300,000 tonnes of bismuth ore, 130,000 tonnes of molybdenum ore, and 200,000 tonnes of beryllium‑bearing ore. There’s also a fluorite component — though one source lists “7,000 tonnes of fluorite,” which likely refers to a specific ore subset. Mindat+2zh.mindat.org+2
  • Because of this polymetallic nature and broad mineralization, Shizhuyuan is viewed by some geologists as a “world‑scale complex deposit” — “a world mineral museum.” Cinf+2Zendy+2

Economic & Industrial Significance & Recent Developments

  • The mining, concentrating, smelting and associated processing of tungsten, molybdenum, bismuth, fluorite, etc., from Shizhuyuan has been an important part of the non‑ferrous metal industry in Hunan and China overall. Asian Metal+2Cinf+2
  • Recently (as of 2025), the controlling company — China Tungsten & High‑Tech Materials Group — announced that a technological transformation / upgrade project at Shizhuyuan is underway, with expected completion by end of 2027. After that, the annual output of tungsten concentrate is planned to rise significantly (to ~10,000 standard tons), along with increased output of associated metals and fluorite. Metal News
  • This suggests ongoing investment and modernization, underlining the continued strategic importance of Shizhuyuan in global supply of tungsten and other critical metals.

Environmental & Local Impact Considerations

  • There have been studies also assessing environmental impact: e.g., groundwater studies around rural areas near the mine found elevated levels of heavy metals (Mn, Fe, As, etc.) in some well‑water sources, highlighting potential contamination risks in wet vs dry seasons. Env Eng Tech Journal
  • As with many large polymetallic mines, the complexity of ore bodies and the range of elements mined means that proper environmental management is important, especially for heavy metals and related by‑products.

Why Shizhuyuan Matters (in Broader Context)

  • Strategic raw‑materials source: Tungsten, molybdenum, bismuth, fluorite — all are industrially important metals/minerals, used in steel alloys, hardmetals (carbides), lubricants, electronics, chemical industry, etc. Having such a rich polymetallic deposit makes Shizhuyuan highly strategic.
  • High geological value: The diversity of ore types (skarn, greisen, stockwork, vein) and mineral assemblage makes it a “natural laboratory” for studying complex ore‑forming processes. For geologists and mining‑industry researchers, it’s a reference deposit.
  • Industrial integration potential: Because of the multiple metals and by‑products, a well‑managed mine + processing complex can supply multiple metal chains — boosting efficiency and the value extracted per ton of ore. The 2025+ modernization effort aims exactly for that.
  • Supply‑chain resilience: Global demand for tungsten and related metals (for industrial uses, cutting tools, etc.) remains, and mines like Shizhuyuan help reduce supply risks.

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