Jinguashi Geopark (Benshan Mine) Introduction
The Benshan Mine is an important gold mining area in Jinguashi. In the 19th year of the Guangxu era (1893), gold prospectors from Keelung ascended the river from Houtong and discovered the small gold outcrop in Jiu Fen, named "Little Jinguashih." In May of the following year, the gold vein outcrop of "Big Jinguashih" was discovered. The exposed rocks resemble the shape of a golden melon, hence the name "Jinguashih." The vertical distribution of the Benshan vein extends from the peak of Big Jinguashih at an elevation of 600 meters down to 130 meters below sea level, with no end in sight. The gold content in various parts of the vein is consistent, with the widest sections reaching over 100 meters. The longest vein stretches over 2 kilometers, while shorter ones are usually several hundred meters in length, making it a significant gold deposit in Jinguashih. In addition to abundant gold, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite were discovered in Benshan in April 1904. The peak of Jinguashih originally stood at 660 meters, but after a century of mining, it has been reduced by 106 meters to about 500 meters (approximately sea level). Due to open-pit mining, the geological features are now clearly exposed, becoming a ready-made outdoor geological classroom.
