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Geoscience ›› 2025, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (01): 167-182.DOI: 10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2025.005

• Gemstone Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Geochemical Characteristics and Color Formation Mechanisms of “Panlong Jade” from Jilin Province

YANG Yuting1(), BAI Feng1(), WEN Yuhang1, ZHANG Qidong1, ZHANG Daoyuan1, WANG Wen2   

  1. 1. School of Gemmology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
    2. Jilin Sanhe Mining Exploiting Co., Ltd,Changchun, Jilin 130000, China
  • Online:2025-02-10 Published:2025-02-20
  • Contact: BAI Feng

Abstract:

“Panlong Jade”, a type of quartzite jade, is derived from the mineralized rocks surrounding the Xiaohongshilazi lead-zinc deposit in Panshi City, Jilin Province. Mostly yellow-green, it is primarily composed of quartz and sericite minerals. Based on field investigations, this study systematically examines the gemological, spectroscopic and geochemical characteristics of “Panlong Jade” using conventional gemological testing, X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy, whole rock geochemical principal component analysis, electron probe, ultraviolet-visible reflection spectroscopy, whole-rock rare earth and trace element analysis and zircon U-Pb dating, while exploring the color formation mechanism, age and ore genesis of “Panlong Jade”. The results indicate that the protolith of “Panlong Jade” is mainly rhyolite tuff, and its color and particle size change due to alteration processes such as silicification and sericitization to meet jade standards. The green coloration is due to the presence of Fe2+, which is isomorphic substituted in sericite, giving it a green hue. There is a positive correlation between the sericite content and the green color of “Panlong Jade”. On the other hand, the presence of Fe3+ imparts yellow (goethite) and red (hematite) hues. “Panlong Jade” formed in a medium to low-temperature metamorphic environment. Zircon U-Pb dating results (228.1±0.7) Ma suggest that the formation of “Panlong Jade” is closely related to acidic magmatic intrusion activity during the Late Triassic period of the Mesozoic era. The mineralization process of “Panlong Jade” can be divided into three main stages: silicification, sericitization, and carbonation.

Key words: “Panlong Jade”, quartzite jade, spectroscopic analysis, rock geochemistry, zircon U-Pb dating

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