Wolframite is a dense, heavy mineral that serves as the primary ore for tungsten. It is typically found as dark, submetallic, bladed crystals in quartz veins associated with granitic igneous rocks.
Is this wolframite?
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 wolframite with a known reference. Wolframite 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. Wolframite leaves a dark brown to black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wolframite typically shows a submetallic to metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, black, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, tabular, bladed.
Often confused with
Wolframite 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 Wolframite leaves dark brown to black, Columbium Ore leaves dark red to black; luster reads submetallic to metallic on Wolframite and submetallic on Columbium Ore.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wolframite leaves dark brown to black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads submetallic to metallic on Wolframite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Cassiterite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Wolframite leaves dark brown to black, Cassiterite leaves white; luster reads submetallic to metallic on Wolframite and adamantine on Cassiterite.
Often found alongside wolframite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wolframite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Fe,Mn)WO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 7.0-7.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark Brown to Black
- Luster
- Submetallic to Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, Tabular, Bladed
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore Source For Tungsten
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $15-150 thumbnail, $200-800 cabinet
Where rockhounds find wolframite
5 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- China
- Portugal
- Bolivia
- Russia
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, granite pegmatites country, the host setting where wolframite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, cassiterite, molybdenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic, tabular, bladed habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Connecticut, New Mexico, South Dakota. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify wolframite?+
Where is wolframite found?+
Can I find wolframite in the United States?+
How much is wolframite worth?+
What rocks look like wolframite?+
What minerals are found with wolframite?+
What kind of rock does wolframite form in?+
What is wolframite used for?+
Find wolframite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
