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www.mineralgallery.co.za Minerals U-Z |
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Wolframite |
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Name
Wolframite
Chemistry
(Fe,Mn)WO4
Uses
Before depleted uranium began to be used instead, wolframite was highly valued as the main source of the metal tungsten, a strong and high inertia material with many military uses. In WWII wolframite mines were a strategic asset as the metal was used to make tank armour
Color
Black (ferberite) to brown (huebnerite)
Hardness
4-4.5
Specific gravity
7.75
Crystals
Tabular crystals, sometimse prismatic
Accompanied by:
Associated minerals include cassiterite, scheelite, bismuth, quartz, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, and arsenopyrite
Fracture
Uneven to rough
Luster
Submetallic to resinous
Cleavage
Perfect 010
Streak
Black to brownWhite
Wolframite (Fe,Mn)WO4, is an iron manganese tungstate mineral that is the intermediate between ferberite (Fe2+ rich) and huebernite (Mn2+ rich). Along with scheelite, the wolframite series are the most important tungsten ore minerals. Wolframite is found in quartz veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusives. Associated minerals include cassiterite, scheelite, bismuth, quartz, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, and arsenopyrite.
It was historically found in Bohemia, Saxony, and Cornwall. China reportedly has the world's largest supply of tungsten ore with about 60%. Other producers are Portugal, Russia, Australia, Thailand, Korea, Bolivia, and the United States.
The name comes from German wolfram for tungsten and provides the chemical symbol, W, for tungsten.
Before depleted uranium began to be used instead, wolframite was highly valued as the main source of the metal tungsten, a strong and high inertia material with many military uses. In WWII wolframite mines were a strategic asset as the metal was used to make tank armour