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Tungstite

Big Photo

San Antonio de Calacalani mine, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
© Thomas Witzke

Show Tungstite Photos (7)
Formula:
WO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Yellow, yellow-green, ...
Hardness:2½
Name:The name reflects its tungsten content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Tungstite.

Classification of Tungstite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/E.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.FJ.10

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
J : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); corner-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:4.5.2.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
5 : AX3
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.15.5

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
15 : Oxides of Mo and W
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Type Occurrence of Tungstite

Type Locality:Lane's Mine, Monroe, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA
Year of Discovery:1868

Physical Properties of Tungstite

Lustre:Resinous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Yellow, yellow-green, golden-yellow; yellow in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Perfect
{001} perfect; {110} imperfect

Crystallography of Tungstite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.32Å, b = 10.7Å, c = 5.12Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.497 : 1 : 0.479
Unit Cell Volume:V 291.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Massive, pulverulent to earthy and as microscopic platy crystals.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.36 (80)
3.463 (100)
2.616 (40)
2.556 (50)
1.851 (40)
1.731 (45)

Optical Data of Tungstite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 2.090 nβ = 2.240 nγ = 2.260
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.170

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v extreme

Chemical Properties of Tungstite

Formula:
WO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, O, W
All elements listed in formula:H, O, W

Relationship of Tungstite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.FJ.05Meymacite
WO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
4.FJ.05Sidwillite
MoO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
4.FJ.15Hydrotungstite
WO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
4.FJ.15Ilsemannite
Mo
 
3
O
 
8
·nH
 
2
O
4.FJ.20Parabariomicrolite
BaTa
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.15.1Tugarinovite
MoO
 
2
7.15.2Molybdite
MoO
 
3
7.15.3Sidwillite
MoO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
7.15.4Ilsemannite
Mo
 
3
O
 
8
·nH
 
2
O
7.15.6Hydrotungstite
WO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
7.15.7Meymacite
WO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
7.15.8Alumotungstite
(W,Al)(O,OH)
 
3
7.15.9Jixianite
Pb(W,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7

Other Names for Tungstite

Synonyms:
Tungstic OcherTungstite (of Dana)Wolframine
Other Languages:
French:Acide tungstique
German:Tungstit
Wolframocker
Wolframsäure
Russian:Тунгстит
Spanish:Tungstita

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 Tungstite

Reference List:Silliman (1822), American Journal of Science: 4: 52.

Walker (1933), University of Toronto Stud., Geol. Ser., no. 35: 13.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 605-606.

American Mineralogist (1944): 29: 194.

Canadian Mineralogist (1984): 22: 681-688.

Internet Links for Tungstite

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    Localities for Tungstite

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