Cuprotungstite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Cuprotungstite
Formula:
Cu2(WO4)(OH)2
Colour:
Emerald green, brown, olive-green, pistachio-green
Lustre:
Vitreous, Waxy, Earthy
Hardness:
4 - 5
Specific Gravity:
5.4 - 6.98
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
In allusion to the composition, containing copper (Latin = CUPRum) and TUNGSTen.
Type Locality:
A rare secondary mineral commonly occurring as the result of scheelite altering in a copper-rich environment.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1194
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1194:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
58fa9f14-91cf-49bd-a981-efaf25174efa
IMA Classification of Cuprotungstite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Cu2+3(WO4)2(OH)2
Classification of Cuprotungstite
7.GB.15
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
B : With additional anions and/or H2O
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
B : With additional anions and/or H2O
48.3.2.1
48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
3 : Basic Anhydrous Molybdates and Tungstates
48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
3 : Basic Anhydrous Molybdates and Tungstates
27.4.1
27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
4 : Tungstates
27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
4 : Tungstates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ctgs | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Cuprotungstite
Vitreous, Waxy, Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Emerald green, brown, olive-green, pistachio-green
Streak:
Greenish gray to greenish yellow
Hardness:
4 - 5 on Mohs scale
Density:
5.4 - 6.98 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.06 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Cuprotungstite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 2.180 nε = 2.100
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.080
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Chemistry of Cuprotungstite
Mindat Formula:
Cu2(WO4)(OH)2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cuprotungstite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P41 21 2
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.93 Å, c = 14.48 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.622
Unit Cell V:
1,154.71 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
12
Morphology:
Crystals minute, dipyramidal; forms microcrystalline aggregates of botryoidal globules, incrustations, and veinlets; also compact to friable massive.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.53 Å | (100) |
| 4.03 Å | (80) |
| 3.80 Å | (80) |
| 1.462 Å | (70) |
| 7.76 Å | (50b) |
| 1.729 Å | (50b) |
| 2.45 Å | (40) |
| 2.35 Å | (40) |
| 2.23 Å | (40b) |
| 4.73 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Cave Creek, Arizona, USA. Data from Walenta (1979).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Cuprotungstite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Paris, France: #69.47.
Synonyms of Cuprotungstite
Other Language Names for Cuprotungstite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 27 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| 10 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 9 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Stolzite | Pb(WO4) |
| 7 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Raspite | Pb(WO4) |
| 4 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Wolframite Group | |
| 4 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 3 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Ferberite | FeWO4 |
| 2 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2O |
| 2 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
| 2 photos of Cuprotungstite associated with Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.GB. | Wangpuite | K3(PO4)(Mo12O36) |
| 7.GB. | Natromolybdite | Na2MoO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.GB. | Ootannite | Th4+2W6+4O16 · 5H2O |
| 7.GB.05 | Lindgrenite | Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2 |
| 7.GB.10 | Szenicsite | Cu3(MoO4)(OH)4 |
| 7.GB.15 | UM1999-38-WO:CrV | (V, Cr, W, O, H) [V:Cr:W ratio about 2:1:3] |
| 7.GB.15 | Huenite | Cu4(MoO4)3(OH)2 |
| 7.GB.20 | Phyllotungstite | (H2O,M)x(W,Fe)(O,OH)3 · yH2O (M = Ca, Cs, Pb or K) |
| 7.GB.25 | Rankachite | Ca0.5(V4+,V5+)(W6+,Fe3+)2O8(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.GB.30 | Ferrimolybdite | Fe2(MoO4)3 · nH2O |
| 7.GB.35 | Anthoinite | AlWO3(OH)3 |
| 7.GB.35 | Mpororoite | WAlO3(OH)3 · 2(H2O) |
| 7.GB.40 | Obradovicite-KCu | [K2(H2O)17Cu(H2O)6][Mo8As2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.45 | Mendozavilite-NaFe | [Na2(H2O)15Fe3+(H2O)6][Mo8P2Fe3+3O35(OH)2] |
| 7.GB.45 | Paramendozavilite | [KAl4(H2O)30][Mo12P6Fe3+6O60(OH)13] |
| 7.GB.45 | Obradovicite-NaCu | Na2(H2O)17Cu(H2O)6][Mo8As2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.45 | Obradovicite-NaNa | [Na2(H2O)16Na(H2O)6][Mo8As2Fe3+3O33(OH)4] |
| 7.GB.50 | Tancaite-(Ce) | FeCe(MoO4)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.GB.50 | Mendozavilite-NaCu | [Na2(H2O)15Cu(H2O)6][Mo8P2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.50 | Mendozavilite-KCa | [K2(H2O)15Ca(H2O)6][Mo8P2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.60 | Peterandresenite | Mn4Nb6O19 · 14H2O |
| 7.GB.60 | Melcherite | Ba2Na2Mg[Nb6O19] · 6H2O |
| 7.GB.60 | Hansesmarkite | Ca2Mn2Nb6O19 · 20H2O |
| 7.GB.65 | Ichnusaite | Th(MoO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.GB.70 | Markascherite | Cu3(MoO4)(OH)4 |
| 7.GB.75 | Nuragheite | Th(MoO4)2 · H2O |
| 7.GB.80 | Ophirite | Ca2Mg4[Zn2Mn3+2(H2O)2(Fe3+W9O34)2] · 46H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in acids.
Forms more or less complete pseudomorphs after scheelite.
Forms more or less complete pseudomorphs after scheelite.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Cuprotungstite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1194.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Cuprotungstite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.64
Schaller, Waldemar T. (1932) Chemical composition of cuprotungstite. American Mineralogist, 17 (6) 234-237
Localities for Cuprotungstite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Kevin Conroy Collection |
Australia | |
| Donald H. McColl (1973) +1 other reference |
| |
| Ryan (1961) |
| Ryan (1961) | |
| Jim Sharpe coll. |
| Tested by Stu Mills |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) |
Chile | |
| R.H.Sillitoe/A.H.Clark/A.E.S.Mayer: ... |
| C. Ruiz Fuller/F. Peebles (1988) |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| C. Ruiz Fuller/F. Peebles (1988) |
| - (1948) |
France | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1979) +1 other reference |
| Gröbner J. et al. (2006) |
Italy | |
| www.webmineralshop.com (2001) |
Japan | |
| Shirose et al. (2011) +2 other references |
| Yamada (2001) | |
| Uehara et al. (2014) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +1 other reference |
Mexico (TL) | |
| Adam (1869) +1 other reference |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Panczner (1987) | |
Namibia | |
| Collection of NHM +1 other reference |
| Gerhard Niedermayr: Mesopotamia 504 - ... +1 other reference |
Portugal | |
| Pedro Alves collection and analytical ... |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Malcolm Southwood (2002) | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
UK | |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Day (1999) |
USA | |
| Dale et al. (1960) +2 other references |
| Wilson |
| Galbraith (1959) +1 other reference |
| Hess (1917) +3 other references |
| Hess (1917) +4 other references |
| Schaller (1932) +1 other reference | |
| Wilson (1941) +1 other reference |
| Galbraith (1959) |
| Collected personally +1 other reference |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 338. +3 other references |
| Schaller (1932) +2 other references |
| Dunning et al. (2005) |
| Collected July 2023 by Michael J. ... | |
| Dunning et al. (2005) | |
| Alfredo Petrov specimen |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 338. +1 other reference |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Rocks & Min. 70:244 |
| O'Donoghue (1976) |
| Ream (2004) | |
| Gobla (2012) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| USGS Bull 2009 |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| DeMark (2004) |
| Min News 20:10 p 8 | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Genth |
| U.S Geological Survey Bulletin 948-A +1 other reference |
| Jaroslav Hyrsl specimen |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) | |
| Dietrich (1990) | |
Zimbabwe | |
| Wolfgang Hampel |
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Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany