Scheelite

Mianyang Mine, Mianyang City, Mianyang Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China

Show Scheelite Photos (516)

Formula:

Ca[WO

]

System:

Tetragonal

Colour:

Tan, golden-yellow, ...

Lustre:

Adamantine, Vitreous

Hardness:

4½ - 5

Name:

Named after Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), Swedish chemist, who proved the existence of tungstic oxide in the mineral in 1781.

Isostructural with:

Powellite

Scheelite Group. Powellite-Scheelite Series.

A primary mineral commonly found as a component of contact-metamorphic tactite; in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and greisen; in granitic pegmatites and medium-temperature hydrothermal veins; in alluvial deposits.

Classification of Scheelite

IMA status:

Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"

Strunz 8th edition ID:

6/G.01-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:

7.GA.05

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
A : Without additional anions or H₂O

Dana 8th edition ID:

48.1.2.1

48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
1 : AXO₄

Hey's CIM Ref.:

27.4.2

27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
4 : Tungstates

mindat.org URL:

http://www.mindat.org/min-3560.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Scheelite

Type Locality:

Bispberg iron mine, Säter, Dalarna, Sweden

Year of Discovery:

1821

Occurrences of Scheelite

Geological Setting:

Contact metamorphic tactites, high temperature hydrothermal veins and greisens, granitic pegmatites; alluvial deposits.

Physical Properties of Scheelite

Lustre:

Adamantine, Vitreous

Diaphaneity (Transparency):

Transparent, Opaque

Colour:

Tan, golden-yellow, colourless, white, greenish, dark brown, etc.; colourless in transmitted light

Comment:

May be compositionally colour zoned.

Streak:

White

Hardness (Mohs):

4½ - 5

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
Distinct on {101}, interrupted on {112}, indistinct on {001}.

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal

Density (measured):

6.1(2) g/cm³

Density (calculated):

6.09 g/cm³

Crystallography of Scheelite

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4/m - Dipyramidal

Space Group:

I4₁/a

Cell Parameters:

a = 5.2429(3) Å, c = 11.3737(6) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 2.169

Unit Cell Volume:

V 312.64 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Crystals commonly pseudo-octahedral {011} or {112} predominant, with modifying forms include {001} {013}, {121} and/or several additional; tabular on {001} at times; {001} commonly rough; {112} frequently diagonally striated, usually parallel to [311], the intersection with {121}. Usually granular, massive; also columnar.

Twinning:

On {110} common, penetration and contact twins with a composition plane of (110)or (001).

Comment:

On synthetic material.

Crystal Atlas:

Image Loading

Click on an icon to view

Scheelite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions

t/T	: decrease/increase transparency	x/X	: next/previous texture
b/B	: next/previous background	w	: toggle wireframe
s	: toggle sticks	m	: toggle miller indices
k	: toggle crystallographic axes	=/-	: zoom in/out
r	: stop/start rotation	1/2/3

Epitaxial Relationships of Scheelite

Epitaxial Minerals:

Wolframite

Epitaxi Comments:

Scheelite on wolframite, with Scheelite {001} [110] parallel to Wolframite {010} [001].

X-Ray Powder Diffraction:

Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Scheelite

Type:

Uniaxial (+)

RI values:

n_ω = 1.918 - 1.921 n_ε = 1.935 - 1.938

Maximum Birefringence:

δ = 0.017

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Very High

Comments:

May exhibit weak anomalous birefringence.

Chemical Properties of Scheelite

Formula:

Ca[WO

]

Essential elements:

Ca, O, W

All elements listed in formula:

Ca, O, W

Common Impurities:

Mo,Nb,Ta

Relationship of Scheelite to other Species

Series:

Forms a series with Powellite (see here)

Member of Group:

Scheelite Group

AXO

Common Associates:

Wolframite	Vesuvianite	Tremolite	Tourmaline	Tourmaline
Tourmaline	Topaz	Fluorite	Diopside	Cassiterite
Apatite

7.GA.05

Fergusonite-(Ce)

(Ce,La,Nd)NbO

7.GA.05

Fergusonite-(Nd)

(Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O

7.GA.05

Fergusonite-(Y)

YNbO

7.GA.05

Powellite

Ca[MoO

]

7.GA.05

Stolzite

Pb[WO

]

7.GA.05

Wulfenite

Pb[MoO

]

7.GA.10

Formanite-(Y)

YTaO

7.GA.10

Iwashiroite-(Y)

Y(Ta,Nb)O

7.GA.15

Paraniite-(Y)

Y(AsO

)(WO

)

27.4.1

Cuprotungstite

[(OH)

|WO

]

27.4.4

Anthoinite

WAlO

(OH)

(?)

27.4.5

Mpororoite

AlWO

(OH)

·2H

27.4.6

Yttrotungstite-(Y)

(OH)

27.4.7

Yttrotungstite-(Ce)

(Ce,Nd,Y)W

(OH)

27.4.8

Stolzite

Pb[WO

]

27.4.9

Raspite

PbWO

27.4.10

Russellite

(BiO)

[WO

]

27.4.11

Pinalite

27.4.12

Uranotungstite

(Fe

,Ba,Pb)(UO

)

[(OH)

|WO

] · 12H

27.4.13

Hübnerite

MnWO

27.4.14

Ferberite

FeWO

27.4.15

Wolframite

(Fe

)WO

to (Mn

)WO

27.4.16

Ferritungstite

(W,Fe

)(O,OH)

27.4.17

Phyllotungstite

[(W,Fe)(O,OH)

]·yH

27.4.18

Qitianlingite

(Fe,Mn)

(Nb,Ta)

Other Names for Scheelite

Synonyms:

Calcioscheelite	Calcium tungstate	Calciumwolframite	Trimonite	Trimontite
Tungstate of Lime	Tungstite (of Delamëtherie)	Tunstitite

Other Languages:

Basque:	Scheelita
Catalan:	Scheelita
Dutch:	Scheeliet
Finnish:	Scheeliitti
French:	Scheelite Scheelin calcaire
German:	Scheelit Calcioscheelit Scheelerz Scheelspath Schwerstein Szelit Trimonit Trimontit Tungstein Tunstitit
Italian:	Scheelite
Japanese:	灰重石
Latin:	Lapides stanniferi spathecei Stannum spathosum subdiaphanum album
Lithuanian:	Šeelitas

Polish:	Scheelit
Portuguese:	Scheelita
Russian:	Шеелит
Spanish:	Scheelita Calcioscheelita Trimonita Trimontita Tunstitita
Swedish:	Scheelit Tennspat Tungsten (of Scheele)
Ukrainian:	Шеєліт

Varieties:

Cuprian Scheelite

Molybdoscheelite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:

Inherently fluorescent (SW UV & X-rays). Pure end-member material ubiquitously fluoresces bright blue-white (SW UV). Even a small amount of Mo substituting for W produces a creamy yellow fluorescence (SW UV) with a fixed color based on % of Mo.

Thermal Behaviour:

Thermoluminescent.

Other Information:

Decomposed by HCl or HNO3, leaving a yellow powder of hydrous tungstic oxide, which is soluble in ammonia.

Alters to Tungstite, Hydrotungstite, or Cuprotungstite.

Replaced by Wolframite as perfect pseudomorphs. Often replaces Wolframite.
Pseudomorphs of Quartz, Kaolinite and Bismutite after Scheelite have been noted.

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 Scheelite

Reference List:

Wallerius, J.G (1747) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm: 303 (as Tennspat, Lapides stanniferi spathecei).

Cronstedt (1751) Ak. Stockholm, Handl.

Cronstedt A. (1758) Mineralogie; eller Mineral-Rikets Upstallning. 12mo, Stockholm: 183.

Scheele (1781) Ak. Stockholm, Handl. (as Tungsten).

Werner (1789) Bergmaennisches Journal, Freiberg (Neues Bergmännisches Journal): 386 (as Schwerstein).

Karsten, D.L.G. (1791) Tabellarische Übersicht der mineralogisch-einfachen Fossilien. Berlin (as Schwerstein).

Karsten, D.L.G. (1800) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. First edition: 56 (as Scheelerz).

Haüy, R.J. (1801) Traité de minéralogie. First edition: in 4 volumes with atlas in fol.: 4: 372 (as Scheelin calcaire).

Karsten, D.L.G. (1808) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. Second edition: 74 (as Scheelerz).

Breithaupt, A. (1820) Kurze Charakteristik des Mineral-System’s. 8vo, Freiberg: 23 (as Scheelspath).

Leonhard, K.C. (1821) Handbuch der Oryktognosie. First edition: 594 (as Scheelit).

Breithaupt (1851) Journal für Chemie und Physik, Nuremberg: 54: 130.

Dauber (1859) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 107: 272.

Bauer (1874) Württemburg. Naturwiss. Jahreshefte: 154.

Carnot (1874) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 79: 637.

Iwase (1877) in: Harada (1936) Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University: 3: [4]: 357 (as Trimontite).

Plattner-Richter (1878) Probierkunst m.d. Lothrohr: 185.

Traube (1890) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 7: 232, 238.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 985.

Traube (1895-1896) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 10: 457.

Wada, Tsunashiro (1904) Minerals of Japan. 144 pp., Tokyo: 75-76 (as Trimontite).

Colomba (1906) Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, Rend.: 15: 281.

Petterd, W.F. (1910) Catalogue of the Minerals of Tasmania. 221pp., Hobart: 200.

Rohden (1914) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 159: 318.

Zambonini (1916) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 162: 835.

Dickinson (1920) Journal of the American Chemical Society: 42: 85.

Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 8: 12.

Lindroth and Mauzelius (1922) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 44: 110.

Carobbi (1924) Gazzetta chimica italiana, Rome: 54: 59.

Vegard (1926) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 1: 1151.

Honess, A.P. (1927) The Nature, Origin and Interpretation of the Etch Figures on Crystals. 171pp., New York.

Doelter, C. (1928) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4 [2]: 814.

Hintze, Carl (1929) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 4067, 4083, 4113.

Aanerud (1931) Norske Videnskaps-Akademi, Oslo, Skrifter, no. 13.

Lacroix (1933) Bull. serv. Geol. Indochine: 20 [Min. Abs. (1935): 6: 21].

Harada (1934) Journal of the Faculty of Science Hokkaido University: 4,[2]: 279.

Kerr (1934) University of Nevada Bulletin 28, no. 2.

Royer (1936) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 202: 1346.

Kerr (1938) Economic Geology: 33: 390.

Lacroix (1940) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 210: 273.

Servigne (1940) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 210: 440.

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

Greenwood (1943) Economic Geology: 28: 56.

Marsh (1943) Journal of the Chemical Society, London: 577.

Sillén and Nylander (1943) Arkiv för Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi, Stockholm: 17A, no. 4.

Johnston and Vasconcellos (1945) Economic Geology: 40: 34.

Ramdohr (1949) Heidelberger Beitr. Zur Min.: 1: 105.

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.: 1074-1079.

National Bureau of Standards Circular 539 (1956), 6, 23.

Journal of Chemical Physics (1964): 40: 504-506.

Hazen, R.M., L.W. Finger, and J.W.E. Mariathasan (1985) High-pressure crystal chemistry of scheelite-type tungstates and molybdates. Journal of Physical Chemistry Solids, 46, 253–263.

Kempe, U. & Wolf, D. (1989): Entmischungen von Seyrigit in Molybdoscheelit. Chemie der Erde 49, 5-6.