Ferberite is the iron-rich endmember of the wolframite group and is highly sought after by collectors for its sharp, dark, submetallic crystal blades. It is primarily found in high-temperature hydrothermal quartz veins associated with granitic intrusions. Collectors often look for high-contrast specimens where the black blades stand out clearly against white matrix minerals like quartz.
Is this ferberite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch ferberite with a known reference. Ferberite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brownish black to black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic to metallic adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: lamellar, massive, prismatic.
Often confused with
Ferberite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ferberite leaves brownish black to black, Hübnerite leaves yellow to reddish brown, greenish gray; luster reads submetallic to metallic adamantine on Ferberite and metallic-adamantine towards resinous on Hübnerite.
How to tell apart: Columbite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Ferberite leaves brownish black to black, Columbite leaves blackish brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ferberite leaves brownish black to black, Hematite leaves cherry-red or reddish brown; luster reads submetallic to metallic adamantine on Ferberite and metallic or submetallic to dull on Hematite.
Often found alongside ferberite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ferberite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeWO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 7.58 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish black to black
- Luster
- Submetallic to metallic adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Lamellar, massive, prismatic
- Cleavage
- {010}, perfect; {100} and {102}, partings
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of tungsten
- Host rock
- In high-temperature hydrothermal veins, greisens, and granitic pegmatites; also residual in alluvial and eluvial deposits
Where rockhounds find ferberite
Classic worldwide localities
- An ore mineral, well-crystallized, from a number of mines in the Boulder Co. tungsten district, Colorado, USA
- Corral Creek, near Soldier Mountain, Camas Co., Idaho, USA
- Elizabethtown district, Colfax Co., New Mexico, USA
- Monarch tungsten mine, Ubehebe district, Inyo Co., California, USA
- Aquilas, Sierra de Almagrera, Almería Province, Spain
- Panasqueira, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In high-temperature hydrothermal veins, greisens, and granitic pegmatites; also residual in alluvial and eluvial deposits. If you start seeing scheelite, topaz, fluorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: lamellar, massive, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ferberite?+
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What rocks look like ferberite?+
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Find ferberite on the map
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