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Scheelite is an important ore mineral, and is well-known among collectors for its distinctly colored crystals associated with brilliant fluorescence. It forms a series with the rarer mineral Powellite, which contains molybdenum in place of the tungsten. Scheelite is named after the Swedish chemist Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786). Scheele is credited with the discovery of tungsten within the Scheelite. |
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Chemical Formula |
CaWO4 |
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Composition |
Calcium tungstate, sometimes with some molybdenum
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| Variable Formula |
Ca(W,Mo)O4 |
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Color |
Bright orange, yellow, brown, smoky brown, and tan. Rarely white, colorless, grayish-blue, purple, or pink. |
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Streak |
White to light yellow |
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Hardness |
4.5 - 5 |
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Crystal System |
Tetragonal |
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Crystal Forms
and Aggregates |
Most often as dipyramidal or pseudo-octahedral crystals. Crystals often have triangular growth layers. Aggregates include encrusting, grainy, and massive.
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Transparency |
Transparent to translucent |
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Specific Gravity |
5.9 - 6.1 |
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Luster |
Adamantine or greasy |
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Cleavage |
3,1;2,1 |
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Fracture |
Conchoidal to uneven |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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Other ID Marks |
Strongly fluorescent bluish-white.
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In Group |
Tungstates and Molybdates |
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Striking Features |
Weight, crystal habits, and fluorescence. |
| Environment |
In hornfels of contact metamorphic rock, in granite pegmatites, and in epithermal veins. Occasionally in alluvial deposits.
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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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2 |
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Demand (1-3) |
1 |
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Scheelite is an important ore of Tungsten. Good crystals are rare and expensive, and highly desired by mineral collectors. Scheelite also makes an important mineral among fluorescent mineral collectors.
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The finest Scheelite crystals, often as bright orange pseudo-octahedrons on a Muscovite matrix, come from Mt. Xuebaoding, in Pingwu, Sichuan Province, China. Smoky crystals come from the Yaogangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China. Outstanding, sharply crystallized pseudo-octahedral Scheelite crystals came from the Tae Hwa Mine, Neungam-ri, South Korea. Bright orange, sharp crystals, resembling those of Pingwu, have been found at Gharmung, in the Skardu District, Pakistan.
A uniquely colored, dark grayish-blue form of Scheelite came from Baia Sprie (Felsöbánya), Maramures, Romania; and fleshy-colored dipyramidal crystals from Traversella, Torino Province, Italy. A deep orange Scheelite came from the Morro Velho Mine, Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil; and extremely large crystals were found in the Turmalina Mine, Piura, Peru.
In the U.S., brownish-orange floater crystals of Scheelite were found in the Cohen Mine, Cochise Co., Arizona. Brown, smoky crystals came from Camp Bird Mine, Ouray, Ouray Co., Colorado; and unique white and colorless crystals once came from the Greenhorn Mountains, Kern Co., California. White to light yellow Scheelite is well-known from Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.
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Fluorite - Much lower specific gravity.
Zircon and Spinel - Much harder, lack white fluorescence.
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Have a question about Scheelite? Visit our Q&A Community and ask the experts!
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