Skip To Content
Go to gemstones.com homepage
Sign In
Recommended searches
Gemopedia
  • Ruby
  • Sapphire
  • Tanzanite
  • Diamond
  • Emerald
  • Opal
  • Moissanite
  • Peridot
  • All Gemstones in Gemopedia
Shop Gemstones
  • Shop Jedora Gemstones
  • Shop JTV Gemstones
Videos
  • All About Black Diamonds
  • Unboxing a Million Dollars in Gemstones!
  • Unboxing Emeralds: Gemologist vs. Geologist
  • Unboxing Rough Diamonds
  • Unboxing Garnet: Rhodolite, Pyrope, Demantoid
  • Marvel Cinematic Gemstones
  • All About Pearls and How They're Made
  • Fun Facts About Tanzanite
  • Freshwater Pearls vs. Saltwater Pearls
  • All Videos
Articles
  • Gemstone Collecting
  • Gemstone Beauty
  • Gemstone Color
  • Gemstone Origins
  • Optical Properties
  • Rare Gemstone Collecting
  • Gemstone Luster
  • Phenomenal Gemstones
  • All Articles
Showcase Collections
  • Quartz Gemstones
  • Organic Gemstones
  • American Gemstones
  • Birthstones
  • Mineral Specimens
  • Colors of Tourmaline
  • All Showcases
Gemstone Discovery App
  • Download the App
About Us
  • About Us
Feedback
  • Survey
Account
  • Account Information
  • Author Biography
  • Articles
  • Gemstones Home
  • Gemopedia
  • Ferberite

Ferberite

Ferberite

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: January 2022
Ferberite Rough
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Ferberite Colors
  • Countries of Origin
  • History
  • Care

Ferberite is iron tungstate and it is mined for its tungsten content. It is a monoclinic member of the wolframite group. It is named after the amateur German mineralogist Moritz Rudolph Ferber. It forms in high-temperature hydrothermal veins, greisens, and granitic pegmatites. Crystals are dark brown to black, metallic, and typically form flattened wedge shape crystals. Twinning can occur. At times it can exhibit weak magnetism. Impressive mineral specimens come from Panasqueira, Covilhã, Castelo Branco District, Portugal; Zinnwald, Saxony, Germany; the Yaogangxian Mine, Hunan Province, China; and Tazna Mine, Atocha, Potosí Department, Bolivia.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Ferberite
Species
Ferberite
Transparency
Semitranslucent - Opaque
Refractive Index
Over The Limit 2.255-2.414
Birefringence
0.159
Optic Character
Biaxial
Optic Sign
Positive
Polariscope Reaction
Doubly Refractive (DR)
Pleochroism
None
Hardness
4-4.5
Streak
Brownish Black To Black
Specific Gravity
7.500-7.600 Typical:7.580
Toughness
Poor
Luster
Adamantine, Metallic
Fracture
Uneven
Cleavage
Perfect, in one direction
Chemical Name
iron tungstate
Chemical Formula
FeWO4
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Chemistry Classification
Oxide

Ferberite Colors

  • Brown Ferberite
    Brown
  • Black Ferberite
    Black

Countries of Origin

Papua New Guinea; Kazakhstan; Portugal; Bosnia And Herzegovina; Austria; Mongolia; Korea (the Republic of); Unknown; Brazil; Algeria; Colombia; Argentina; Iran (Islamic Republic of); Hungary; Republic of Kosovo; Japan; Ukraine; Bolivia (Plurinational State of); India; Canada; Namibia; Finland; Italy; South Africa; Georgia; Peru; Germany; Russian Federation; Czechia; United States of America; Madagascar; Thailand; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Sweden; Pakistan; China; Poland; Slovakia; Bulgaria; France; Serbia; Kyrgyzstan; Romania; Rwanda; Switzerland; Spain; Cuba; Norway; Congo (the Democratic Republic of the); Mexico; Uganda; Zimbabwe; Australia; Greenland; Indonesia

History

Discovered in in 1863 in Sierra Almagrera, Spain.

Care

Ferberite is brittle so please take care when handling. Soluble in strong acids.

Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

Sign up for the latest from Gemstones.com!

 
 
  • About Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us
  • Request a Partner Invitation

©  America's Collectibles Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.