Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Qusongite

Formula:
WC
System:HexagonalColour:Black, steel grey
Name:Named for type locality location in Qusong Co.


Natural tungsten carbide.

Classification of Qusongite

IMA status:Approved 2007
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:1.BA.25

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
B : Metallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides and Phosphides
A : Carbides
Dana 8th edition ID:1.1.29.3

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-35898.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Qusongite

Type Locality:Luobusa ophiolite, Qusum (Qusong) Co., Shannan (Lhokha; Lhoka) Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Year of Discovery:1986
Geological Setting of type material:Chromite deposit, hosted in mafic-ultramafic rocks.

Occurrences of Qusongite

Geological Setting:In kimberlite; in a PGE-bearing Cu-Ni sulphide deposit hosted by mafic-ultramafic rocks.

Physical Properties of Qusongite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Black, steel grey
Streak:Black
Hardness (Vickers):VHN200=1553 kg/mm2
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (calculated):15.84 g/cm3

Crystallography of Qusongite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6 m2 - Ditrigonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P6m2
Cell Parameters:a = 2.902Å, c = 2.831Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.976
Unit Cell Volume:V 20.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Irregular, granular, or platy grains

Optical Data of Qusongite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Isotropic to weakly anisotropic
Bireflectance:No bireflectance observed
Reflectivity:
400nmR=66.46%
420nmR=64.42%
440nmR=55.13%
480nmR=53.14%
500nmR=50.73%
520nmR=48.56%
540nmR=46.66%
546nmR=46.09%
560nmR=45.39%
580nmR=45.02%
589nmR=44.94%
600nmR=44.5l%
620nmR=43.88%
640nmR=43.32%
660nmR=41.64%
680nmR=40.75%
700nmR=40.60%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 66.46%.
Colour in reflected light:White to yellowish white
Internal Reflections:Visible

Chemical Properties of Qusongite

Formula:
WC
All elements listed in formula:C, W
Analytical Data:Results from electron microprobe analyses of material from Sichuan (1, mean out of 3 analyses) and Shandong (2, range of results of 10 analyses); presence of carbon and absence of other elements with mass fractions above 1 wt.-% confirmed by Auger spectroscopy.
     (1)         (2)

W  (91.13)  (88.05-89.58)

Relationship of Qusongite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
1.BA.05Cohenite
(Fe,Ni,Co)
 
3
C
1.BA.10Haxonite
(Fe,Ni)
 
23
C
 
6
1.BA.10Isovite
(Cr,Fe)
 
23
C
 
6
1.BA.15Tongbaite
Cr
 
3
C
 
2
1.BA.20Khamrabaevite
(Ti,V,Fe)C
1.BA.20Niobocarbide
(Nb,Ta)C
1.BA.20Tantalcarbide
TaC
1.BA.30Yarlongite
Cr
 
4
Fe
 
4
NiC
 
4

Other Names for Qusongite

Synonyms:
IMA2007-034
Other Languages:

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Qusongite

Reference List:American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 387–390, 2009

Strukturberichte (1926), 575.

Acta Crystallographica (1961) 14, 200.

Jianhong Zhang, Guojie Yang, and Zhaohui Li (1986): Discovery of natural tungsten carbide (WC) in China. Kuangwu Xuebao 6, 344-349 (in Chinese with English abstract). - American Mineralogist (1989) 74, 948 (abstract).

Doklady Akademy Nauk SSSR (1997) 352, 226-229.

American Mineralogist (1999) 84, 1468.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungsten_carbide

Internet Links for Qusongite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Qusongite on Google
  • Look for Qusongite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Qusongite on Webmineral
  • Look for Qusongite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Qusongite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Qusongite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Qusongite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Qusongite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    China
     
    • Shandong Province
      • Linyi Prefecture
        • Yimeng Mts (Yimeng Shan)
          • Mengyin Co.
    		Jianhong Zhang, Guojie Yang, and Zhaohui Li (1986): Kuangwu Xuebao 6, 344-349.
    • Sichuan Province
      • Garzê (Ganzi) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Danba Co.
          • Yangliuping dome
    		Jianhong Zhang, Guojie Yang, and Zhaohui Li (1986): Kuangwu Xuebao 6, 344-349.
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
      • Shannan (Lhokha; Lhoka) Prefecture
        • Qusum (Qusong) Co.
    		IMA website; American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 387–390, 2009
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 24th Nov 2009 06:29:19