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 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale reddish brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: deep red-brown, reddish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. 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. 4); streak differs, so Welinite leaves pale reddish brown, Braunite leaves brownish black to steel-gray; luster reads resinous on Welinite and submetallic on Braunite.
How to tell apart: Hausmannite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Welinite leaves pale reddish brown, Hausmannite leaves dark reddish brown; luster reads resinous 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
- Mn₆(W□)(SiO₄)₂O₄(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.47 g/cm³
- Colors
- Deep red-brownReddish black
- Streak
- Pale reddish brown
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Transparent in thin fragments
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor to distinct on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In small amounts, as fillings in fissures with other minerals cutting hausmannite ore (Långban, Sweden)
Where rockhounds find welinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
- Taguchi mine, ??, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In small amounts, as fillings in fissures with other minerals cutting hausmannite ore (Långban, Sweden). If you start seeing adelite, sarkinite, barite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. 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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