Tungstite typically forms as a secondary yellow, powdery coating or earthy mass resulting from the oxidation of tungsten minerals like scheelite. It is commonly found in the weathering zones of tungsten ore deposits, rarely forming distinct, recognizable crystals.
Is this tungstite?
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 tungstite with a known reference. Tungstite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous, pearly on cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow green, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: earthy, pulverulent.
Often confused with
Tungstite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tungstite leaves yellow, Meymacite leaves brownish yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tungstite leaves yellow, Jarosite leaves pale yellow; luster reads resinous, pearly on cleavages on Tungstite and subadamantine to vitreous, resinous on fractures on Jarosite.
Often found alongside tungstite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tungstite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- WO₃·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 5.517 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous, pearly on cleavages
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Earthy, pulverulent
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect; {110}, imperfect
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An alteration product of tungsten minerals, especially wolframite and ferberite, in hydrothermal tungsten-bearing deposits
Where rockhounds find tungstite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lane’s bismuth mine, Monroe, north of Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA
- Boriana mine, Mohave Co., and the Black Pearl mine, Camp Wood district, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
- San Alberto mine, near Alamos, Sonora, Mexico
- Kootenay Belle mine, Salmo, British Columbia, Canada
- Marlow, Quebec, Canada
- Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An alteration product of tungsten minerals, especially wolframite and ferberite, in hydrothermal tungsten-bearing deposits. If you start seeing hydrotungstite, ferritungstite, wolframite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: earthy, pulverulent. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tungstite on the map
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