Yunfu pyrite mine
Western Guangdong, Yunfu City (Pearl River Basin), China
Otherpyrite (S, Tl)
- Type
- Open-pit massive stratiform pyrite deposit
One of the world's largest pyrite reserves (over 200 Mt, over 30 % S): stratiform pyrite ore with pyrrhotite, limonite and traces of sphalerite and chalcopyrite, carrying As, Cr, Co, Ni and Tl; 2 to 3 Mt mined per year since the late 1960s, roasted by a local sulphuric acid plant since 1985 (80,000 t of acid and 55,000 t of waste per year). Pyrite with 206Pb/207Pb of 1.1539 and 208Pb/206Pb of 2.1263, less radiogenic than local rocks (1.1993 to 1.2024), tracing mining lead and thallium in sediments from the Gaofeng River to the Pearl River (Liu et al., 2016). Published coordinates (23° 03' N, 112° 01' E).
206Pb/207Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1539 | 1.1539 / 1.1539 | 2 | pyrite (granular and massive ore) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, granular and massive pyrite; 813 to 1430 mg/kg Pb in the ore; Zhang et al. (1998) gave 1.1604 to 1.1608 for other district pyrites. | Liu et al. (2016), Thallium dispersal and contamination in surface sediments from South C… |
208Pb/206Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1263 | 2.1263 / 2.1263 | 2 | pyrite (granular and massive ore) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, granular and massive pyrite; 813 to 1430 mg/kg Pb in the ore; Zhang et al. (1998) gave 1.1604 to 1.1608 for other district pyrites. | Liu et al. (2016), Thallium dispersal and contamination in surface sediments from South C… |
206Pb/204Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.1495 ± 0.01202 | 18.141 / 18.158 | 2 | pyrite (granular and massive ore) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, granular and massive pyrite; 813 to 1430 mg/kg Pb in the ore; Zhang et al. (1998) gave 1.1604 to 1.1608 for other district pyrites. | Liu et al. (2016), Thallium dispersal and contamination in surface sediments from South C… |
207Pb/204Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.729 ± 0.0099 | 15.722 / 15.736 | 2 | pyrite (granular and massive ore) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, granular and massive pyrite; 813 to 1430 mg/kg Pb in the ore; Zhang et al. (1998) gave 1.1604 to 1.1608 for other district pyrites. | Liu et al. (2016), Thallium dispersal and contamination in surface sediments from South C… |
208Pb/204Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38.5905 ± 0.02616 | 38.572 / 38.609 | 2 | pyrite (granular and massive ore) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, granular and massive pyrite; 813 to 1430 mg/kg Pb in the ore; Zhang et al. (1998) gave 1.1604 to 1.1608 for other district pyrites. | Liu et al. (2016), Thallium dispersal and contamination in surface sediments from South C… |
Deposits of the same type
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Yunfu pyrite mine, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/mine-de-pyrite-de-yunfu/ (accessed 2026-10-15).
@misc{isofind2026yunfupyritemineisotopesignatu,
title = {Yunfu pyrite mine, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/mine-de-pyrite-de-yunfu/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15}
}Updated : 2026-10-15