Asahi Mine
Oto village, Aizu-Wakamatsu city, Fukushima pref., Japan
Synonym
Amaya Mine
Occurrence
Kuroko massive sulfide deposit
Kuroko Massive Sulfide deposit in rhyolite tuff breccia of Miocene Higashiomata Formation. The deposit is mainly composed of gypsum parallel to the bedding plane. The host of the deposit has been subjected to silicification and sericitization alteration.
Occurrence of gypsum associated with sericite. The bluish-white clay near the coin is sericite. The translucent cololess to orange grains are gypsum partly exhibiting fibrous habit. Other opaque grains are fragments of the host rhyolitic tuff breccia of Higashiomata Formation, and the opaque white grains are quartz.
Reported Minerals
- Gypsum
- Celestite
- Pyrite
- Sericite
Mineral Assemblages
- Gypsum - Celestite
- Rhyolite(Host) - Pyrite
History
- 1590: The deposit was mined for gold by Ujisato Gamo, who ruled the Aizu feudal domain.
- 1600: The mine developed to one of the three biggest mine in Aizu region by Hideyuki Gamo, the son of Ujisato Gamo.
- 1635: The mine began to decline.
- 1932: The gypsum deposit was mined.
- 1935: Au, Ag, and Cu were began to mined.
- 1935: A new gypsum deposit was discovered and began to mined.
Localities
- Kosaka Mine (Tertiary,Sulfide)
- Hanawa Mine (Tertiary,Sulfide)
- Hanaoka Mine (Tertiary,Sulfide)
- Toya Mine (Tertiary,Sulfide)
- Takara Mine (Funnel structure,Sulfide)
- Asahi Mine (Tertiary,Gypsum)