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🇨🇳 I Went 530 Meters Underground for Pink Calcite Mine in China!
530m Underground: Pink Calcite at Manaoshan Mine, Hunan
📍 Manaoshan Mine, Dongpo Ore Field, Suxian District, Chenzhou, Hunan, China
I traveled to the Manaoshan Mine in Chenzhou, Hunan, China to see where these incredible "pagoda" pink calcite specimens are coming from.
Descending roughly 530 meters underground, we made our way deep into the mine and...
Manaoshan Mine, Dongpo Ore Field, Suxian District, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.
I traveled to the Manaoshan Mine in Chenzhou, Hunan, China to see where these incredible "pagoda" pink calcite specimens are coming from.
Descending roughly 530 meters underground, we made our way deep into the mine and eventually crawled through a small crevice that opened into a huge pocket covered in beautiful pink calcite blades.
I document the entire experience in this vlog, from traveling to the mine and exploring the underground workings to seeing the crystals in place and collecting a few specimens myself. Enjoy!
Deep beneath the hills of Chenzhou, a hidden world of luminous pink calcite awaits. This vlog descends 530 meters into Hunan's Manaoshan Mine, where pagoda-like crystal formations cling to the rock walls. After a high-speed train ride, the adventure moves underground. Crawling through a narrow crevice opens into an extraordinary pocket lined with giant pink calcite blades. There are jaw-dropping discoveries, including enormous clusters and a surprising pocket of green fluorite. With hands-on extraction and the raw atmosphere of an active mine, it's an unforgettable behind-the-scenes look at mineral collecting in one of China's most fascinating underground locations.
Manaoshan Mine, Dongpo Ore Field, Suxian District, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.
I traveled to the Manaoshan Mine in Chenzhou, Hunan, China to see where these incredible "pagoda" pink calcite specimens are coming from.
Descending roughly 530 meters underground, we made our way deep into the mine and eventually crawled through a small crevice that opened into a huge pocket covered in beautiful pink calcite blades.
I document the entire experience in this vlog, from traveling to the mine and exploring the underground workings to seeing the crystals in place and collecting a few specimens myself. Enjoy!
Frank Zhu's mineral obsession has taken him from Brazil to the highlands of Hunan, China, and this time he lands at the Manaoshan Mine in Chenzhou. The mission: see where those stunning pink mangano calcite 'pagoda' specimens come from. He starts with a seven-hour high-speed rail ride into the countryside, enjoying a rare business-class seat. There's a layered feeling of anticipation — this mine visit is one of the main reasons he came to China, and the boss has already promised him something special: whatever he digs out, he can keep.
At the mine, the operation is professional and seriously impressive. There is a control room packed with monitors showing every tunnel, a raised floor hiding wires, giant motors, and trolleys hauling rock in and out. The miners have their own compound with a basketball court, and safety gear is non-negotiable. Once he's wearing a helmet, boots, and mask, he boards the cart that drops into the darkness at a 45-degree angle. The descent feels endless, and by the time the trolley stops, he's 530 meters underground, surrounded by heavy-metal veins, pyrite, calcite, and the constant sound of water.
Then comes the raw, emotional highlight. He follows his guide through a cramped passage and crawls through a tiny hole, emerging into a huge pocket lined with massive pink calcite blades. His glasses fog up from the humid air; he keeps repeating 'oh my god' as the camera scans the glittering walls. The mine boss pulls down specimens with casual ease, and he tries to pry one off himself. With a little help, he ends up with a gorgeous pink mangano calcite piece that he says he will never get rid of. They even extract a 70-kilogram fluorite-calcite specimen, a moment that feels both absurd and incredible.
The experience closes above ground, where Frank watches tailings being dumped into the valley and bamboo trees sway on the mountainsides. He reflects that this is 'real China,' far from the ultra-modern metropolises — raw, humid, and full of surprises. His joy is contagious, and the vlog becomes more than a mining tour: it's a reminder that mineral hunting is about patience, trust, and the thrill of seeing nature's hidden artwork. For anyone passionate about crystals, the Manaoshan Mine is a bucket-list destination.
Frank Zhu's mineral obsession takes him deep into China's Manaoshan Mine. After a seven-hour train ride, he descends 530 meters underground, crawls through a tight crevice, and emerges inside a glittering cavern of giant pink mangano calcite blades. This is a raw, thrilling, behind-the-scenes look at real mining and real China.
Frank Zhu goes 530 meters underground in Hunan's Manaoshan Mine to find a hidden pocket of giant pink calcite crystals.
530m Underground in Hunan's Manaoshan Mine for Pink Calcite
5:33 Entering the mine requires proper preparation. Wear a helmet, boots, and a mask, and always watch where you step because the ground is slippery and uneven. Following your guide closely is the only safe way to navigate the underground workings.
8:31 Riding the mining cart is a thrilling but scary descent. The track angles down steeply and becomes very slippery, so hold on tight to the cart and brace yourself as it carries you hundreds of meters into the mountain.
11:17 At deeper levels, study the tunnel walls for mineral clues. Shiny pyrite, calcite, and heavy-metal stains indicate you are near promising pockets. A guide can show you which veins are worth investigating.
18:09 Don't be afraid to crawl through tight crevices inside the mine. The guide showed a small opening that led into a massive room of pink calcite. Sometimes the most spectacular discoveries require squeezing through uncomfortable spaces.
25:23 When exploring mineral pockets, look for cubes of fluorite along the walls. According to the miners, spotting these formations means you are on the right path and close to more valuable calcite pockets.
37:36 Take time to explore the surface area around the mine after exiting. Watch how workers dump tailings into the valley, and enjoy the surrounding bamboo-covered mountains. It gives you a fuller sense of the mining landscape.
5:33 Entering the mine requires proper preparation. Wear a helmet, boots, and a mask, and always watch where you step because the ground is slippery and uneven. Following your guide closely is the only safe way to navigate the underground workings.
8:31 Riding the mining cart is a thrilling but scary descent. The track angles down steeply and becomes very slippery, so hold on tight to the cart and brace yourself as it carries you hundreds of meters into the mountain.
11:17 At deeper levels, study the tunnel walls for mineral clues. Shiny pyrite, calcite, and heavy-metal stains indicate you are near promising pockets. A guide can show you which veins are worth investigating.
18:09 Don't be afraid to crawl through tight crevices inside the mine. The guide showed a small opening that led into a massive room of pink calcite. Sometimes the most spectacular discoveries require squeezing through uncomfortable spaces.
25:23 When exploring mineral pockets, look for cubes of fluorite along the walls. According to the miners, spotting these formations means you are on the right path and close to more valuable calcite pockets.
37:36 Take time to explore the surface area around the mine after exiting. Watch how workers dump tailings into the valley, and enjoy the surrounding bamboo-covered mountains. It gives you a fuller sense of the mining landscape.
0:01 Cold open: extracting pink calcite
0:41 High-speed rail to Hunan
1:44 Arriving at Manaoshan Mine
4:13 Entering the mine tunnel
8:31 Riding the mining cart down
11:17 Reaching 530 meters underground
18:09 Crawling into hidden crystal pocket
26:31 Boss grabs a pink specimen
37:36 Leaving the mine after adventure
0:00 Intro
0:31 High Speed Train
1:42 Arrived at the Mine, Touring the Site
4:54 Entering the Mine!
9:04 Descending 530m Into the Earth!
10:05 Walking Through the Tunnels
13:50 Recent Production! Giant Pink Calcite Clusters!
17:15 Climbing into the Pocket of Pink Calcite Crystals!!
19:03 Extracting a Pink Calcite off the Wall!!
24:50 Smoke Break, Exploring Smaller Pockets
27:57 A Pocket of Green Fluorite in the Celling!
28:52 He's Going for it!
32:10 OMG a HUGE Chuck of Fluorite!
36:50 Going back up
37:55 Back on the Surface
38:20 Watching them Dump Rocks
39:11 Conclusion!
How did you get to the Manaoshan Mine?
I took a seven-hour high-speed rail ride from Donghai to Hunan Province, then met the crew at the mine. It was a beautiful trip through the countryside.
What was it like riding the cart down into the mine?
It was crazy. The cart went down at a 45-degree angle and was really slippery. We just held on and kept going until we were 530 meters underground.
What did it feel like discovering the pink calcite pocket?
It was unreal. I crawled through a tiny hole, my glasses fogged up, and suddenly I was surrounded by gigantic pink mangano calcite blades. I couldn't stop saying 'oh my god.'
Did you get to keep any specimens?
Yes. The mine owner told me anything I dug out I could keep. I walked away with a beautiful pink calcite piece, and they also pulled out a 70-kilo fluorite-calcite specimen.
