Like copper, lead mineralization found in Shanxi Province, many points, but the formation of industrial deposits and was mined only the Lvliang Mountain Jiaocheng Xiyupi lead mine, Wutai Mountain Fanshi Gengzhuang lead-zinc mines and Lingqiu Diaoquan lead-zinc mines in three places. The latter two deposits were formed in the Mesozoic Era, i.e. more than 100 million years ago during the Yanshan Movement, and belong to the subvolcanic (volcanic rocks have reached the surface) deposits where magma intruded to the near surface. The Xiyupi lead deposit was formed in the Neoproterozoic era. Lead isotope age determination, galena mineralization in 2.8 billion years ago, is China's oldest lead mine.
Relative to copper, lead ore in our country can be self-sufficient, do not need to import large quantities from abroad. Therefore, the industrial requirements of lead ore is higher than copper, its boundary grade (minimum grade) 0.5%, industrial grade 1%, that is, each ton of ore need to obtain 10 kg of lead metal before enough industrial mining.
West Yupi lead ore is a silica-type deposits, the ore is magma from the depths of the earth's crust brought up and the upper strata of the process of chemical reaction precipitation down. The morphology of this type of deposit is very complex. It is not only controlled by the surrounding rock fissures (the channel for magma to rise), but also controlled by the stratified fissures, and even more related to the site of the chemical reaction between the magma and the strata (the site where the ore liquid precipitates and gathers). For this reason, the geology department in less than 8 square kilometers within the area of hundreds of drill holes, according to the old folks say "every hill all over", and finally found 100,000 tons of reserves. But is made by hundreds of drill holes and a large number of surface trenching, shallow well project distribution map of the deposits, in the mining process, often encountered "map on the pit in the pit without, the map continuous mining broken" and other complex situations, indicating that the change of law after such a detailed exploration can not be grasped.
West Yupi lead ore in the magma and peripheral rock chemical reaction also crystallized garnet, the kind of brownish-yellow crystal transparent minerals, a few crystals have reached the grade of gemstones, but the number is too small, otherwise it can become a gemstone mine (used as jewelry).