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Huebnerite is the manganese-rich end member of the Wolframite series. It is not always distinguished individually and is sometimes just classified as Wolframite. An increase of iron in its structure tends to give it a more black color, decrease transparency, and increase its density. Huebnerite is named after German metalurgist and mining engineer Adolf Hübner. |
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Chemical Formula |
MnWO4 |
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Composition |
Manganese tungstate, often with a variable amount of iron
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Color |
Dark red, dark brown, reddish black, black |
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Streak |
Reddish brown to black |
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Hardness |
4 - 4.5 |
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Crystal System |
Monoclinic |
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Crystal Forms
and Aggregates |
Most often in long prismatic crystals, columnar groups, blocky
and chisel-shaped crystals, and flattened tabular crystals. Also in
dense bladed clusters and rosettes, reticulated,
acicular, grainy, and massive. Crystals are often
striated lengthwise, and may be twinned as
repeated twins with a v-shaped notch in the center. |
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Transparency |
Opaque. Transparent in thin splinters or when backlit. |
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Specific Gravity |
7.1 - 7.3 |
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Luster |
Adamantine, submetallic |
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Cleavage |
1,1. May exhibit parting between crystals. |
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Fracture |
Uneven |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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In Group |
Tungstates and Molybdates |
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Striking Features |
Heavy weight, color, cleavage, and mode of occurrence. |
| Environment |
In tungsten deposits composed of high and medium temperature
hydrothermal Quartz veins; also in granite
pegmatites.
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| Rock Type |
Igneous, Metamorphic |
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Popularity (1-4)
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2 |
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Prevalence (1-3)
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3 |
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Demand (1-3) |
1 |
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Huebnerite is an important ore of tungsten. Good specimens are not common, and are highly desired by mineral collectors.
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Some of the largest and most lustrous crystals crystals of Huebnerite come from the Yaogangxian Mine, Hunan Province, China. In Bolivia, stubby and often twinned crystals come from the Siglo Veinte Mine, Llallagua, Potosí Department; and prismatic and columnar crystals from the Himalaya Mine, Mt Illimani, La Paz Department, Bolivia. In Peru, sharp, deep red and often translucent crystals come from the Huayllapon Mine, Pasto Bueno District, Ancash Department. Lustrous crystals with beautiful Quartz come from from the Huanzala Mine, Huallanca, Huánuco Department, Peru; and from Mundo Nuevo, Huamachuco, La Libertad Department, Peru.
In the U.S., Huebnerite was found in Colorado in the famous Rhodochrosite locality of the Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Park Co. Brownish crystals were found in Howardsville, in the Animas District, San Juan Co., Colorado; and acicular sprays of bladed crystals from the Adams Mine, near Silverton, both in San Juan Co., Colorado.
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Ferberite - Has a darker color, less transparent, slightly heavier in weight.
Rutile - Harder, crystals are usually thinner.
Goethite - Has a lower specific gravity.
Columbite-Tantalite series - Different crystal form, cleavage less distinguishable.
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