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Qusongite

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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
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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

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  • Localities for Qusongite

    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): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 6(4), 344-349
    • Sichuan Province
      • Garzê (Ganzi) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Danba Co.
          • Yangliuping dome
    Jianhong Zhang, Guojie Yang, and Zhaohui Li (1986): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 6(4), 344-349
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
      • Shannan (Lhokha; Lhoka) Prefecture
        • Qusum (Qusong) Co.
    IMA website; American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 387–390, 2009
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