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Lollingite

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A cluster of bright lustrous metallic lollingite crystals 3.0 cm in size on matrix. Nice example for the species. The Huanggang Mines, located in the Hexigten Banner of Inner Mongolia, China, comprise a massive iron-tin skarn deposit situated within the Great Hinggan Mountains. Geologically, the site is characterized by the interaction of Late Mesozoic granitic intrusions with Permian limestone and marble, resulting in a complex mineralogical environment rich in boron, tin, and iron. The mines are particularly famous for producing exceptional specimens of lollingite, an iron arsenide mineral that typically forms sharp, lustrous, silver-gray metallic crystals, often appearing in dramatic radiating sprays or as steep pyramidal crystals. Historically, large-scale industrial mining and quarrying at the Huanggangliang complex began in the late 1990s and significantly expanded during the early 2000s, with a primary focus on iron and tin extraction. While the site remains a major industrial operation, it gained worldwide acclaim among mineral collectors between 2010 and 2015 for a series of remarkable discoveries involving various rare species. As of 2026, the Huanggang Mines continue to be a vital source of both industrial metals and world-class mineralogical specimens, including some of the finest crystallized lollingite ever recorded.