Benxi Formation in the Zhangqiu (Jinan), Boshan (Zibo), and Zhangdian (Zibo) areas. The Upper Carboniferous Benxi Formation is the target horizon of this study, widely distributed across the North China Platform and constituting an important Late Paleozoic ore-bearing rock series (G-layer bauxite). The Benxi Formation unconformably overlies the Middle Ordovician Majiagou Formation limestone, representing a period of prolonged weathering and denudation following the overall uplift of the North China Platform due to the Caledonian Orogeny, which resulted in widely developed karst weathering crusts. Its lower part is characterized by the development of ferruginous mudstone and bauxitic rock, representing redeposited eluvial material derived from a paleo-weathering crust, with poorly defined primary bedding sequences. The upper part consists of variegated mudstone and aluminous mudstone, displaying a fining-upward (retrogradational) sedimentary pattern. The thickness generally ranges within tens of meters, varying significantly laterally, strictly controlled by the underlying Ordovician karst topography, often infilling karst depressions and dissolution cavities.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Bauxite (Aluminium)

ⓘ Titanium

Mineral List

15 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anatase

Formula: TiO₂

References:

Sun, Jichun; Zhao, Huiji; Wang, Dongdong; Gai, Mingchao; Lv, Dawei; Zhang, Xiaoyang; Zhang, Meng; Xu, Xinqian; Xu, Fei; Zheng, Xue (2026) Mechanism and controlling factors of paleoweathering crust Sedimentary-Type titanium deposits in the Central-Eastern North China Craton: A Case study of the Upper Carboniferous Benxi Formation in the Zibo-Zhangqiu area. Ore Geology Reviews, 195. p.107390. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2026.107390

ⓘ Brookite

Formula: TiO₂

References:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

ⓘ Chalcopyrite

Formula: CuFeS₂

References:

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

ⓘ Diaspore

Formula: AlO(OH)

References:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

References:

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

ⓘ Kaolinite

Formula: Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

References:

ⓘ 'K Feldspar'

References:

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite

Formula: K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂

References:

ⓘ 'Plagioclase'

Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈

References:

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO₂

References:

ⓘ Siderite

Formula: FeCO₃

References:

ⓘ 'Smectite Group'

Formula: A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O

References:

ⓘ Zircon

Formula: Zr(SiO₄)

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Chalcopyrite	2.CB.10a	CuFeS₂
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Rutile	4.DB.05	TiO₂
ⓘ	Anatase	4.DD.05	TiO₂
ⓘ	Brookite	4.DD.10	TiO₂
ⓘ	Diaspore	4.FD.10	AlO(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
ⓘ	Siderite	5.AB.05	FeCO₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Gypsum	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Zircon	9.AD.30	Zr(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Muscovite var. Illite	9.EC.15	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
ⓘ		9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	Kaolinite	9.ED.05	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Plagioclase'	-	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
ⓘ	'K Feldspar'	-
ⓘ	'Smectite Group'	-	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Diaspore	AlO(OH)
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
H	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
C	ⓘ Siderite	FeCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Anatase	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Brookite	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Diaspore	AlO(OH)
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
O	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Siderite	FeCO₃
O	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
O	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Diaspore	AlO(OH)
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
S	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Anatase	TiO₂
Ti	ⓘ Brookite	TiO₂
Ti	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Siderite	FeCO₃
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Zr	Zirconium
Zr	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

[1]Sun, Jichun; Zhao, Huiji; Wang, Dongdong; Gai, Mingchao; Lv, Dawei; Zhang, Xiaoyang; Zhang, Meng; Xu, Xinqian; Xu, Fei; Zheng, Xue (2026) Mechanism and controlling factors of paleoweathering crust Sedimentary-Type titanium deposits in the Central-Eastern North China Craton: A Case study of the Upper Carboniferous Benxi Formation in the Zibo-Zhangqiu area. Ore Geology Reviews, 195. p.107390. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2026.107390

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Benxi Formation, Zhangdian District, Zibo, Shandong, ChinaiRegional Level TypesBenxi FormationFormation Zhangdian DistrictDistrict ZiboPrefecture-level City ShandongProvince ChinaCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Commodity List

Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

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Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

References

Benxi Formation, Zhangdian District, Zibo, Shandong, China i
Regional Level Types
Benxi Formation Formation
Zhangdian District District
Zibo Prefecture-level City
Shandong Province
China Country