Information about Wolframite

Wolframite is a group of closely associated minerals – and the intermediate member of these minerals between hubnerite-ferberite. The name is sometimes also used for members of the series which have not been identified in the lab.

Uses and History

The primary ore of tungsten, an incredibly important industrial and military metal.

Tungsten is used for a range of industrial applications including carbide machine cutting tools, armour piercing ammunition, electric filaments, as well as a chemical catalyst in various reactions.

The name comes from the German word wolfram, meaning tungsten.

The name is derived from ‘wolf rahm’, the old name given to the mineral by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius in 1747.

Mineralogy

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis. When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

Translations

Further Reading / External Links

• https://www.mindat.org/min-39780.html
• https://www.mindat.org/min-1940.html
• https://www.mindat.org/min-1476.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolframite