Scheelite/Calcium Tungstate-II

Powellite, CaMoO₄, is isostructural with scheelite which is why it forms similar crystals. The two minerals form a series in which the tungsten of scheelite is substituted for by the molybdenum of powellite. Powellite fluoresces a yellow color while scheelite fluoresces a bright blue under short wave ultraviolet light. Of course since molybdenum can substitute for tungsten, some scheelite specimens will show a yellow fluorescence.

The crystals of scheelite can look like fluorite octahedrons which can also fluoresce. However, fluorite has perfect octahedral cleavage and a lower luster. Massive scheelite has often been mistaken for massive quartz, but then the fluorescence of scheelite is a dead giveaway.

Many prospectors for scheelite have made good use of scheelite's typically bright blue fluorescence by searching for scheelite deposits by night with ultraviolet lamps. Many old mines have even been reopened after examination of the mine shafts with ultraviolet lamps have proven that the ore is not quite yet exhausted.

Tungsten Powder Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online -www.tungsten-powder.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten & Molybdenum Information Bank: http://i.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Molybdenum News & Molybdenum Price: http://news.molybdenum.com.cn

• < Prev
• Next >