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Ferberite

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Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
© Dan & Diana Weinrich

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Formula:
FeWO
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Black; dark brown in ...
Hardness:4 - 4½
Name:For Moritz Rudolph Ferber (1805-1875), amateur mineralogist, Gera, Germany.


Ferberite-Hübnerite Series.

Occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal veins, greisens, and granitic pegmatites; in alluvial and eluvial deposits.

Classification of Ferberite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.16-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DB.30

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:48.1.1.2

48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
1 : AXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:27.4.14

27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
4 : Tungstates
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Type Occurrence of Ferberite

Co-type Localities:Sierra Almagrera, Cuevas de Almanzora, Almería, Andalusia, Spain
Jaroso Ravine, Sierra Almagrera, Cuevas de Almanzora, Almería, Andalusia, Spain
Year of Discovery:1863

Occurrences of Ferberite

Geological Setting:High temperature hydrothermal veins, greisens, granitic pegmatites.

Physical Properties of Ferberite

Lustre:Adamantine, Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Black; dark brown in transmitted light
Streak:Brownish black to black
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {010}
Parting:On {100} and {102}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):7.58 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.6 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ferberite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P2/b {P1 1 2/b} {P2/c} {P1 2/c 1}{P2/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 4.72Å, b = 5.7Å, c = 4.96Å
β = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.828 : 1 : 0.87
Unit Cell Volume:V 133.44 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals wedge-shaped, commonly flattened {100} and elongated [010] or, less commonly, along [001]. Crystal faces striated parallel {001} or {010}; as groups of bladed crystals; less often short prismatic [001] and flattened {100}. Massive.
Twinning:Common with twin plane {100}, rarely {001}; simple contact twins with composition face (100) or, rarely (001); interpenetrant (simulating Carlsbad twins in orthoclase) or lamellar (very rare). Twin plane {023}, common, usually as simple contact twins, rarely as repeated twins or interpenetrating.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Ferberite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.255 nβ = 2.305 nγ = 2.414
2V:Measured: 66° , Calculated: 72°
Birefringence:Weak
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.159

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Distinct
Dispersion:r > v extreme
Colour in reflected light:Gray to white
Internal Reflections:Deep brownish red (less bright than Hübnerite)

Chemical Properties of Ferberite

Formula:
FeWO
 
4
Essential elements:Fe, O, W
All elements listed in formula:Fe, O, W
Common Impurities:Nb,Ta,Sc,Sn

Relationship of Ferberite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Hübnerite (see here)
Common Associates:
TopazScheelitePyriteMarcasiteHematite
Fluorite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DB.05Argutite
GeO
 
2
4.DB.05Cassiterite
SnO
 
2
4.DB.05Plattnerite
PbO
 
2
4.DB.05Pyrolusite
MnO
 
2
4.DB.05Rutile
TiO
 
2
4.DB.05Tripuhyite
Fe
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DB.05Tugarinovite
MoO
 
2
4.DB.05Varlamoffite
(Sn,Fe)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.10Byströmite
MgSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Ordoñezite
ZnSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.15bAkhtenskite
ε-Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
4.DB.15cNsutite
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.15aParamontroseite
VO
 
2
4.DB.15aRamsdellite
Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
4.DB.20Scrutinyite
alpha-PbO
 
2
4.DB.25Ishikawaite
U
4+
 
Fe
2+
 
Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Ixiolite
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
4
O
 
8
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Y)
(Y,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,U,Th,Ca)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Srilankite
Ti
 
2
ZrO
 
6
4.DB.25Yttrocolumbite-(Y)
Y(U
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Calciosamarskite
(Ca,Fe
3+
 
,Y)
 
2
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Yb)
(Yb,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Písekite-(Y)
4.DB.30Hübnerite
MnWO
 
4
4.DB.30Sanmartinite
(Zn,Fe)WO
 
4
4.DB.30Krasnoselskite
CoWO
 
4
4.DB.30Heftetjernite
ScTaO
 
4
4.DB.30IMA2009-018
MgWO
 
4
4.DB.35Columbite-(Fe)
FeNb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Fe)
FeTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mn)
MnTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Qitianlingite
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
WO
 
10
4.DB.35Magnocolumbite
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.40Ferrowodginite
FeSnTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiotantite
Li(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiowodginite
LiTa
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Titanowodginite
MnTiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Wodginite
Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Ferrotitanowodginite
Fe
2+
 
TiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Wolframowodginite
Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.45Tivanite
VTiO
 
3
(OH)
4.DB.50Carmichaelite
(Ti,Cr,Fe)[O
 
2-x
(OH)
 
x
]
4.DB.55Alumotantite
AlTaO
 
4
4.DB.60Biehlite
((Sb,As)O)
 
2
[MoO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
27.4.1Cuprotungstite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|WO
 
4
]
27.4.2Scheelite
Ca[WO
 
4
]
27.4.4Anthoinite
WAlO
 
3
(OH)
 
3
 (?)
27.4.5Mpororoite
AlWO
 
3
(OH)
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
27.4.6Yttrotungstite-(Y)
YW
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
27.4.7Yttrotungstite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,Y)W
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
27.4.8Stolzite
Pb[WO
 
4
]
27.4.9Raspite
PbWO
 
4
27.4.10Russellite
(BiO)
 
2
[WO
 
4
]
27.4.11Pinalite
Pb
 
3
WO
 
5
Cl
 
2
27.4.12Uranotungstite
(Fe
2+
 
,Ba,Pb)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|WO
 
4
] · 12H
 
2
O
27.4.13Hübnerite
MnWO
 
4
27.4.15Wolframite
(Fe
2+
 
)WO
 
4
 
 
to (Mn
2+
 
)WO
 
4
27.4.16Ferritungstite
(W,Fe
3+
 
)(O,OH)
 
3
27.4.17Phyllotungstite
Ca
 
x
[(W,Fe)(O,OH)
 
3
]·yH
 
2
O
27.4.18Qitianlingite
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
WO
 
10

Other Names for Ferberite

Synonyms:
FerrotungstateIron Tungstate
Other Languages:
Dutch:Ferberiet
German:Ferberit
Ferrowolframit
Italian:Ferberite
Japanese:鉄重石
Russian:Ферберит
Slovak:Ferberit
Spanish:Ferberita
Varieties:
Reinite

Other Information

Other Information:Slightly magnetic. Decomposed by aqua regia with the separation of tungstic oxide.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:Ore of tungsten.

References for Ferberite

Reference List:NOTE: See also: Wolframite references.

Kerndt (1847) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 42: 81.

Liebe (1863) Jb. Min.: 641 (as Ferberit).

Weisbach, Albin (1875) Synopsis mineralogical, systematische Übersicht des Mineralreiches. 78 pp., Freiberg: 43 (as Ferrowolframit).

Fritsch (1878) Zeitschrift für Naturwissenschaften, Halle: 3: 864 (as Reinit [Reinite]).

Luedecke (1879) Jb. Min.: 286.

Chernik (1899) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 31: 513.

Wada (1904) Minerals of Japan: 76 (Kodera analysis).

Wherry (1914) Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 47: 501.

Geijer (1923) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 45: 434.

Wilson (1941) Arizona Bureau of Mines, Gelogy Series, Bull. 148.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 1064-1072.

Cid-Dresdner, H. and C. Escobar (1968) The crystal structure of ferberite, FeWO4. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig, 127, 61–72.

Ülkü, D. (1967) Untersuchungen zur Kristallstruktur und magnetischen Struktur des Ferberits FeWO4. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig, 124, 192–219 (in German with English abstract).

Mineralogical Record (1977): 8: 393.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 220.

Internet Links for Ferberite

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    Localities for Ferberite

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