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Scheelite

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

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Formula:
Ca[WO
 
4
]
System:TetragonalColour:Tan, golden-yellow, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, VitreousHardness: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
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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 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
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:
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Scheelite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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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:
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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 Scheelite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.918 - 1.921 nε = 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
 
4
]
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)
Related to:
  • Scheelite Group
    • Common Associates:
    WolframiteVesuvianiteTremoliteTourmalineTourmaline
    TourmalineTopazFluoriteDiopsideCassiterite
    Apatite
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    7.GA.05Fergusonite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Nd)NbO
     
    4
    7.GA.05Fergusonite-(Nd)
    (Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O
     
    4
    7.GA.05Fergusonite-(Y)
    YNbO
     
    4
    7.GA.05Powellite
    Ca[MoO
     
    4
    		]
    7.GA.05Stolzite
    Pb[WO
     
    4
    		]
    7.GA.05Wulfenite
    Pb[MoO
     
    4
    		]
    7.GA.10Formanite-(Y)
    YTaO
     
    4
    7.GA.10Iwashiroite-(Y)
    Y(Ta,Nb)O
     
    4
    7.GA.15Paraniite-(Y)
    Ca
     
    2
    		Y(AsO
     
    4
    		)(WO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    27.4.1Cuprotungstite
    Cu
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|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
    27.4.14Ferberite
    FeWO
     
    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 Scheelite

    Synonyms:
    CalcioscheeliteCalcium tungstateCalciumwolframiteTrimoniteTrimontite
    Tungstate of LimeTungstite (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 ScheeliteMolybdoscheelite

    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.

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