Welinite is an exceptionally rare manganese tungsten oxide mineral found almost exclusively in the famous Långban mines of Sweden. It typically appears as tiny, yellow-to-brown tabular crystals embedded within manganese-rich metamorphic rocks.
Is this welinite?
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 welinite with a known reference. Welinite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Welinite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Welinite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Welinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Braunite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Welinite leaves yellow, Braunite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Welinite and submetallic on Braunite.
How to tell apart: Hausmannite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Welinite leaves yellow, Hausmannite leaves brownish-red; luster reads vitreous on Welinite and submetallic on Hausmannite.
Often found alongside welinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with welinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺₆(W⁶⁺,Sb⁵⁺)₂O₈(OH)₈
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Iron-manganese Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find welinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Filipstad, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed iron-manganese deposits country — that is the host setting where welinite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, manganosite, kentrolite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find welinite on the map
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