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. Ferberite leaves a dark brown to black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Ferberite typically shows a submetallic to metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular, prismatic, or bladed crystals.
Often confused with
Ferberite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Columbium Ore is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Ferberite leaves dark brown to black, Columbium Ore leaves dark red to black; luster reads submetallic to metallic on Ferberite and submetallic on Columbium Ore.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ferberite leaves dark brown to black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads submetallic to metallic on Ferberite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
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
- 7.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark Brown to Black
- Luster
- Submetallic to Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular, Prismatic, Or Bladed Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Tungsten
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins and Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-200 for good thumbnail or cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find ferberite
Classic worldwide localities
- Panasqueira, Portugal
- Tasna, Bolivia
- Boulder County, Colorado, USA
- Yaogangxian, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites country, the host setting where ferberite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, fluorite, cassiterite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular, prismatic, or bladed crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ferberite?+
Where is ferberite found?+
How much is ferberite worth?+
What rocks look like ferberite?+
What minerals are found with ferberite?+
What kind of rock does ferberite form in?+
What is ferberite used for?+
Find ferberite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
