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Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japani
Regional Level Types
Sado mineMine
Sado CityCity
Niigata PrefecturePrefecture
JapanCountry

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08231330017596931647691.jpg
Worked out vein

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
02022710017272046231403.jpg
View of the Sado Island gold mining area, in 1928.

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
05947090017595561034645.jpg
View of the Sado Island gold mining area, in 1928.

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
08698730017595960331468.jpg
Worked out vein

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
02022710017272046231403.jpg
View of the Sado Island gold mining area, in 1928.

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
07022810017272080112654.jpg
View of the Sado Island gold mining area, in 1928.

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
06137760017596931651230.jpg
Worked out vein

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
02022710017272046231403.jpg
View of the Sado Island gold mining area, in 1928.

Sado mine, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 2' 15'' North , 138° 15' 39'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
38.03750,138.26111
GRN:
N26E78
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
Cfa : Humid subtropical climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Ryōtsu-minato16,359 (2017)16.2km
Mindat Locality ID:
53677
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:53677:5
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Ancient gold-silver mine, worked intermittently from 1601 until 1974; it closed in 1989. It also worked a seaside placer deposit. Famous as a place political prisoners were sent to work during the Shogun era.
Low-sulfidation epithermal deposit. 15 Mt of ore were mined, yielding 2.51 Moz Au at an average grade of 5.2 g/t Au. In addition, over 74 Moz Ag were recovered at an average grade of 153 g/t Ag.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

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


Mineral List


26 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Acanthite
Formula: Ag2S
References:
Tharalson, E.R.
Monecke, T.
Reynolds, T.J.
Zeeck, L.
Pfaff, K.
Sadanaga, Ryoichi, Bunno, Michiaki (1974) The Wakabayashi Mineral Collection. Bulletin 7. The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
Shikazono, Naotatsu (1985) A comparison of temperatures estimated from the electrum-sphalerite-pyrite-argentite assemblage and filling temperatures of fluid inclusions from epithermal Au-Ag vein-type deposits in Japan. Economic Geology, 80 (5) 1415-1424 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.80.5.1415
Nokleberg, W.J., ed., (2010) Metallogenesis and tectonics of northeast Asia: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1765, 624 p.
Tharalson, Erik, Monecke, Thomas, Reynolds, T., Zeeck, Lauren, Pfaff, Katharina, Kelly, Nigel (2019) The Distribution of Precious Metals in High-Grade Banded Quartz Veins from Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposits: Constraints from µXRF Mapping. Minerals, 9 (12) 740 doi:10.3390/min9120740
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
Description: Flat spear shaped crystals from this mine reach at least 12 cm
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chlorargyrite
Formula: AgCl
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Hessite
Formula: Ag2Te
ⓘ Jalpaite
Formula: Ag3CuS2
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ 'K Feldspar var. Adularia'
Formula: KAlSi3O8
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Mckinstryite
Formula: Ag5-xCu3+xS4
ⓘ Miargyrite
Formula: AgSbS2
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum
Formula: (Au,Ag)
ⓘ Native Silver
Formula: Ag
ⓘ Pearceite
Formula: [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
ⓘ Polybasite
Formula: [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
ⓘ 'Polybasite-Tac'
Formula: [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
ⓘ Proustite
Formula: Ag3AsS3
ⓘ Pyrargyrite
Formula: Ag3SbS3
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rhodochrosite
Formula: MnCO3
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Stephanite
Formula: Ag5SbS4
ⓘ Stromeyerite
Formula: AgCuS
ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold
var. Electrum		1.AA.05(Au,Ag)
ⓘ1.AA.05Au
ⓘNative Silver1.AA.05Ag
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘAcanthite2.BA.35Ag2S
ⓘMckinstryite2.BA.40Ag5-xCu3+xS4
ⓘStromeyerite2.BA.40AgCuS
ⓘJalpaite2.BA.45Ag3CuS2
ⓘHessite2.BA.60Ag2Te
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
ⓘProustite2.GA.05Ag3AsS3
ⓘPyrargyrite2.GA.05Ag3SbS3
ⓘ'Polybasite-Tac'2.GB.[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
ⓘ'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
ⓘStephanite2.GB.10Ag5SbS4
ⓘPearceite2.GB.15[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
ⓘPolybasite2.GB.15[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
ⓘMiargyrite2.HA.10AgSbS2
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘChlorargyrite3.AA.15AgCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz
var. Amethyst		4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Chalcedony4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘ4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘRhodochrosite5.AB.05MnCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'K Feldspar
var. Adularia'		-KAlSi3O8
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ RhodochrositeMnCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RhodochrositeMnCO3
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
AlAluminium
Alⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Siⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SSulfur
Sⓘ AcanthiteAg2S
Sⓘ Polybasite-Tac[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ JalpaiteAg3CuS2
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ MckinstryiteAg5-xCu3+xS4
Sⓘ MiargyriteAgSbS2
Sⓘ Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Sⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Sⓘ ProustiteAg3AsS3
Sⓘ PyrargyriteAg3SbS3
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ StephaniteAg5SbS4
Sⓘ StromeyeriteAgCuS
Sⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ChlorargyriteAgCl
KPotassium
Kⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
MnManganese
Mnⓘ RhodochrositeMnCO3
FeIron
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ Polybasite-Tac[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ JalpaiteAg3CuS2
Cuⓘ MckinstryiteAg5-xCu3+xS4
Cuⓘ Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Cuⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Cuⓘ StromeyeriteAgCuS
Cuⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Asⓘ ProustiteAg3AsS3
AgSilver
Agⓘ AcanthiteAg2S
Agⓘ Polybasite-Tac[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Agⓘ ChlorargyriteAgCl
Agⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Agⓘ HessiteAg2Te
Agⓘ JalpaiteAg3CuS2
Agⓘ MckinstryiteAg5-xCu3+xS4
Agⓘ MiargyriteAgSbS2
Agⓘ Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Agⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Agⓘ ProustiteAg3AsS3
Agⓘ PyrargyriteAg3SbS3
Agⓘ Native SilverAg
Agⓘ StephaniteAg5SbS4
Agⓘ StromeyeriteAgCuS
SbAntimony
Sbⓘ Polybasite-Tac[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Sbⓘ MiargyriteAgSbS2
Sbⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Sbⓘ PyrargyriteAg3SbS3
Sbⓘ StephaniteAg5SbS4
Sbⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
TeTellurium
Teⓘ HessiteAg2Te
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
AuGold
Auⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Eurasian Plate
Japan
Okhotsk PlateTectonic Plate

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

MUKAIYAMA, Hiromu (1950) On Some Gold-Silver Ores from the Sado Mine, Sada Island, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 56 (655) 181-187 doi:10.5575/geosoc.56.181
Taguchi, Yasuro, Oba, Minoru, Kizawa, Yoji (1974) Jalpaite and Mckinstryite from the Sado Mine, Niigata Prefecture. Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Japan, 11 (6) 345-358 doi:10.2465/gkk1952.11.345
Kamitani, M., Okumura, K., Teraoka, Y., Miyano, S., and Watanabe, Y. (2007) Mineral Resources Map of East Asia. Geological Survey of Japan.
en.wikipedia.org (2017) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sado_mine
Tharalson, Erik, Monecke, Thomas, Reynolds, T., Zeeck, Lauren, Pfaff, Katharina, Kelly, Nigel (2019) The Distribution of Precious Metals in High-Grade Banded Quartz Veins from Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposits: Constraints from µXRF Mapping. Minerals, 9 (12) 740 doi:10.3390/min9120740
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