Hübnerite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Hübnerite
Formula:
MnWO4
Colour:
Yellow-brown, reddish-brown, blackish brown, black, red (rare)
Lustre:
Adamantine, Resinous, Metallic
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Specific Gravity:
7.12 - 7.18
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1865 by Eugene N. Riotte (native of Elberfeld, Germany) for Friedrich Adolph Hübner [May 17, 1830?, Koenigsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia) -?], German mining engineer and metallurgist from Freiberg, Saxony. (Original notice did not have an umlaut as it was in an English language newspaper.)
Ferberite-Hübnerite series
Occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and pneumatolytically altered granites yielding greisen; in granite pegmatites; in alluvial and eluvial deposits.
Note: This species is misclassified in Dana 8th. There are no WO4 tetrahedra in it. It should be in Class 4, Simple Oxides.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hübnerite.
Occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and pneumatolytically altered granites yielding greisen; in granite pegmatites; in alluvial and eluvial deposits.
Note: This species is misclassified in Dana 8th. There are no WO4 tetrahedra in it. It should be in Class 4, Simple Oxides.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hübnerite.Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Hubnerite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1940
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1940:4
IMA Classification of Hübnerite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Mn2+W6+O4
Classification of Hübnerite
4.DB.30
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
48.1.1.1
48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
1 : AXO4
48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
1 : AXO4
27.4.13
27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
4 : Tungstates
27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
4 : Tungstates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Hbr | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Hbn | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Hübnerite
Adamantine, Resinous, Metallic
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Yellow-brown, reddish-brown, blackish brown, black, red (rare)
Streak:
Greenish-grey, yellow to reddish-brown
Hardness:
4 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Comment:
Directional
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}
Perfect on {010}
Parting:
On {100} and {102}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
7.12 - 7.18 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.234 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Hübnerite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 2.17 - 2.2 nβ = 2.22 nγ = 2.3 - 2.32
2V:
Measured: 73° , Calculated: 73°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.120 - 0.130
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Anisotropism:
Distinct
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Optical Extinction:
Orientation: X = b; Z ∧ c = 17°–21°.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 17.1% | 19.8% |
| 420nm | 16.3% | 19.3% |
| 440nm | 15.5% | 18.8% |
| 460nm | 15.1% | 18.3% |
| 480nm | 14.6% | 17.5% |
| 500nm | 14.4% | 17.2% |
| 520nm | 14.2% | 17.0% |
| 540nm | 13.9% | 16.7% |
| 560nm | 13.8% | 16.5% |
| 580nm | 13.7% | 16.3% |
| 600nm | 13.6% | 16.2% |
| 620nm | 13.5% | 16.1% |
| 640nm | 13.5% | 16.0% |
| 660nm | 13.4% | 15.9% |
| 680nm | 13.4% | 15.8% |
| 700nm | 13.3% | 15.7% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 19.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White to gray
Internal Reflections:
Deep blood red
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = Yellow to green, orange-red
Y = Yellowish brown to greenish yellow, red-orange to red
Z = Green, brick red to red
Y = Yellowish brown to greenish yellow, red-orange to red
Z = Green, brick red to red
Comments:
Absorption: Z > Y > X.
Chemistry of Hübnerite
Mindat Formula:
MnWO4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| MoO3 | 0.15 % |
| WO3 | 75.60 % |
| FeO | 1.80 % |
| MnO | 21.35 % |
| ZnO | 0.04 % |
| MgO | 0.01 % |
| Total: | 98.95 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Mn2+0.92Fe2+0.08)[W1.00O4] |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nippyo mine, Awano, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan | single small grain |
Crystallography of Hübnerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.8238(7) Å, b = 5.7504(10) Å, c = 4.9901(8) Å
β = 91.18(1)°
β = 91.18(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.839 : 1 : 0.868
Unit Cell V:
138.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals commonly prismatic and striated [001]; also tabular, to bladed, flatened {100} and exhibit numerous forms, including {010}, {110}, {100}, {310}, {112}, {001}, {102} and {011}. Radiating groups or in parallel configuration.
Twinning:
Common as simple contact twins on {100}, rarely on {001}; as interpenetrant twins, lamellar.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.996 Å | (100) |
| 2.954 Å | (95) |
| 4.84 Å | (65) |
| 3.78 Å | (60) |
| 3.70 Å | (55) |
| 2.497 Å | (55) |
| 2.880 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Synthetic.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
High-temperature hydrothermal veins and pneumatolytically altered greisens; granite pegmatites and sedimentary alluvial deposits.
Type Occurrence of Hübnerite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Synonyms of Hübnerite
Other Language Names for Hübnerite
Relationship of Hübnerite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Wolframite Group:
| Ferberite | FeWO4 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Heftetjernite | ScTaO4 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Huanzalaite | MgWO4 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| 'Krasnoselskite' | CoWO4 | Mon. |
| Nioboheftetjernite | ScNbO4 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Rossovskyite | (Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ti)O4 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Sanmartinite | (Zn,Fe)WO4 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 973 photos of Hübnerite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 153 photos of Hübnerite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 98 photos of Hübnerite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 66 photos of Hübnerite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 43 photos of Hübnerite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 41 photos of Hübnerite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 36 photos of Hübnerite associated with Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| 36 photos of Hübnerite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 33 photos of Hübnerite associated with Stolzite | Pb(WO4) |
| 31 photos of Hübnerite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DB. | Tianhongqiite | CrTiO3(OH) |
| 4.DB. | Nioboheftetjernite | ScNbO4 |
| 4.DB. | Huangshanite | Fe3+TaO4 |
| 4.DB. | Nioboixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Nb0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB. | Shakhdaraite-(Y) | ScYNb2O8 |
| 4.DB.05 | Varlamoffite | Sn1-xFexO2-x(OH) |
| 4.DB.05 | Argutite | GeO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Rutile | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Plattnerite | PbO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tugarinovite | MoO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.10 | Byströmite | MgSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Ordoñezite | ZnSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tredouxite | NiSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.15a | Paramontroseite | V4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15a | Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15b | Akhtenskite | ε-Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15c | Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Nioboixiolite-([]) | (Nb0.8◻0.2)4+O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ishikawaite | U4+Fe2+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Yttrocolumbite-(Y) | Y(U4+,Fe2+)Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Calciosamarskite | (Ca,U4+)Fe3+(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Yb) | YbFe3+(Nb,Ta)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Sc) | (Ta0.5Sc0.5)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Ta0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Ta0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Nioboixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Nb0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Srilankite | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Nioboixiolite-(Fe3+) | (Nb0.5Fe3+0.5)O2 |
| 4.DB.30 va | Wolframite Group | |
| 4.DB.30 | Rossovskyite | (Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ti)O4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Huanzalaite | MgWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Heftetjernite | ScTaO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Sanmartinite | (Zn,Fe)WO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Ferberite | FeWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | 'Krasnoselskite' | CoWO4 |
| 4.DB.35 | Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalaeschynite-(Ce) | Ce(TiTa)O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | 'Wolframowodginite' | Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Tantalowodginite | (Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.45 | Tivanite | V3+TiO3(OH) |
| 4.DB.50 | Carmichaelite | (Ti,Cr,Fe)[O2-x(OH)x] |
| 4.DB.55 | Alumotantite | AlTaO4 |
| 4.DB.60 | Biehlite | ((Sb,As)O)2[MoO4] |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
Tungsten ore.
Internet Links for Hübnerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1940.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Hübnerite
Reference List:
Cross, W.; Hillebrand, W.F. (1885) Contributions to the mineralogy of the Rocky Mountains. Bulletin 20. US Geological Survey 114 pp. doi:10.3133/b20 p.96
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.157
Weitzel, H. (1976) Kristallstrukturverfeinerung von Wolframiten und Columbiten. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 144 (1-6). 238-258 doi:10.1524/zkri.1976.144.1-6.238
Buhl, J. Chr., Willgallis, A. (1984) Kinetics and Mechanism of Hübnerite (MnWO4) and Ferberite (FeWO4) Crystallization under Hydrothermal Conditions. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A, 39 (10). 963-965 doi:10.1515/zna-1984-1009
Localities for Hübnerite
Showing 592 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Quick NavTopAbout HübneriteName EncodingUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Chemical AnalysisCrystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Mundo Nuevo, Huamachuco, Sánchez Carrión Province, La Libertad, Peru