Ferberite

Ferberite is a relatively rare occurring mineral from the mineral class of " oxides and hydroxides ". It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the chemical composition of Fe2 and WO4 developed primarily short prismatic to tabular crystals, but also granular to massive aggregates of black, shiny metallic color.

Ferberite is one of the end members of the wolframite mixed batch, the other end member is the Hübnerit.

Etymology and history

It was named after the mineral Moritz Rudolph Ferber (1805-1875), a German amateur mineralogist from Gera. It was first found and described in 1863.

Classification

In the now outdated but still in use 8th edition of the mineral classification by Strunz the Ferberite belonged to the department of " oxides with the molar ratio of metal: oxygen = 1: 2 ( MO2 and related compounds ) ," where he along with Hübnerit, Sanmartinit and the now discredited Wolframo - Ixiolit the " wolframite series" with the system no. IV/D.16 formed.

The 9th edition valid since 2001 and of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA ) used the Strunz'schen Mineral classification assigns the Ferberite also in the department of " oxides with the molar ratio of metal: oxygen = 1: 2 and comparable " one. However, this is further divided according to the relative size of the involved cations and the crystal structure, so that the mineral according to its composition and its construction in the subdivision: is to find "With medium-sized cations chains of edge-sharing octahedra ", where it, along with Heftetjernit, Hübnerit Krasnoselskit, Magnesiowolframit and Sanmartinit the " wolframite group " with the system no. 4.DB.30 forms.

The mostly commonly used in English-speaking classification of minerals according to Dana assigns the Ferberite unlike the Strunz'schen systematics in the class of " phosphates, arsenates, vanadates, " and then in the Department of " molybdates and tungstates " one. Here he is with wolframite, Hübnerit, Sanmartinit and Heftetjernit in the " wolframite series" with the system no. 48.01.01 within the sub-division of " water clear with molybdates and tungstates A XO4 " to find.

Education and Locations

Ferberite is either formed by hydrothermal processes in the aged or in skarns or in igneous rocks such as pegmatites and granites. Accompanying minerals are cassiterite, quartz, scheelite, and various sulfides.

Locations include Tamanrasset in Algeria; New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria in Australia; various provinces in Bolivia, Brazil, the People's Republic of China; Baden- Württemberg, Lower Saxony and Saxony- Anhalt in Germany; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Yukon in Canada; Maniema in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Carinthia and Salzburg in Austria; Bohemia and Moravia in the Czech Republic; and Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, California and other states in the U.S..

Crystal structure

Ferberite crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, space group P2 / c with lattice parameters a = 4.72 Å, b = 5.7 Å and c = 4.96 Å; β = 90 ° and two formula units per unit cell.

Use

Ferberite is an important tungsten ore.