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Wolframite is an iron, manganese, and tungstate mineral that is the main source of tungsten, a strong and dense material with a high melting point. Wolframite is found in quartz veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusives. It is commonly associated with tin ore in granite rocks. As of 2011, there was a known resource of 376 kilotonnes of tungsten-bearing ore in Australia. These deposits are found in various locations across the country, including Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wolframite deposits in Australia | Bold Head and Dolphin on King Island off the coast of Tasmania, Mount Lindsay and Kara on the Tasmanian mainland, O'Callaghans and Watershed in Queensland, Mount Mulgine and Big Hill in Western Australia, and Molyhil in the Northern Territory |
| Wolframite deposits in other countries | China, Spain, Canada, Portugal, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, Rwanda, Bolivia, the United States, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Historical wolframite deposits | Bohemia, Saxony, Devon, Cornwall, northwestern Spain, northern Portugal, eastern Germany, Myanmar (Burma), the Malay Peninsula |
| Associated minerals | Cassiterite, scheelite, bismuth, quartz, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, and arsenopyrite |
| Type of rock | Granite and pegmatite |
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What You'll Learn
Wolframite deposits in Queensland
Wolframite is an iron, manganese, and tungstate mineral with a chemical formula of (Fe, Mn)WO4. It is the primary ore mineral of tungsten, a strong and dense material with a high melting point. Wolframite is highly valued as tungsten has various industrial applications, including its use in electric filaments, ammunition, and hard tungsten carbide machine tools.
In Australia, wolframite deposits can be found in Queensland, with notable locations including O'Callaghans, Watershed, Mount Carbine, Wolfram Camp, and Bamford Hill. In 2011, Queensland held 14% of Australia's tungsten deposits, while Western Australia accounted for over 60%, and Tasmania held 22%. The first production of wolframite concentrate in Queensland began in 2012 at the Mount Carbine and Wolfram Camp mines in the north of the state. Mount Carbine, discovered in the late 19th century, is located 120 km northwest of Cairns and comprises wolframite and scheelite in sheeted quartz veins within metasedimentary rocks. Wolfram Camp, on the other hand, suspended operations in 2016.
The price of tungsten in Queensland rose dramatically after the Global Financial Crisis, more than doubling its 2008 price by 2011. This price increase reflected the extra demand resulting from a tightening of supply in China. The value of tungsten remains above long-term average levels.
In addition to Queensland, Western Australia has significant wolframite deposits at Mount Mulgine, Big Hill, and Huntly, which is the largest bauxite mine in the world. Tasmania also has deposits at Mount Lindsay and Kara on the Tasmanian mainland, as well as on King Island and Oakleigh Creek.
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Wolframite deposits in Western Australia
Wolframite is an iron, manganese, and tungstate mineral with the chemical formula (Fe, Mn)WO4. It is the principal ore mineral of tungsten and is highly valued as the main source of tungsten metal. Wolframite is commonly found in association with tin ore in granite rocks, and its occurrence is typically in quartz veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusives.
In Australia, wolframite deposits can be found in Western Australia, with notable locations including Mount Carbine, Hatches Creek, and the Huntly mine. Mount Carbine, discovered in the late 19th century, is located about 120 km northwest of Cairns and comprises wolframite and scheelite in sheeted quartz veins within metasedimentary rocks of the Hodgkinson Formation. The mineralisation at Mount Carbine is thought to be related to the nearby Permian Mount Carbine Granite.
Hatches Creek, another significant location for wolframite deposits in Western Australia, is a historic mineral field situated about 375 km northeast of Alice Springs. The tungsten mineralisation at Hatches Creek occurs as wolframite-bearing, quartz-vein systems associated with various other minerals, including bismuth, copper, and molybdenum. Between 1913 and 1977, Hatches Creek produced approximately 3065 tonnes of 65% WO3 concentrate from shallow lodes.
The Huntly mine, located in Western Australia, is notable not specifically for wolframite but as the largest bauxite mine in the world, producing approximately 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
In addition to Western Australia, wolframite deposits are also found in other parts of Australia, including Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. Queensland holds deposits at O'Callaghans and Watershed, while Tasmania has deposits at Bold Head, Dolphin, Mount Lindsay, and Kara. The Northern Territory is home to wolframite deposits at Molyhil.
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Tasmania's deposits
Tasmania has a significant number of wolframite deposits, which have been the focus of
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Wolframite's association with granite
Wolframite is the principal ore mineral of tungsten, commonly found in association with tin ore in granite rocks. It is an iron manganese tungsten oxide mineral with a dark grey to brown-black colour, a high specific gravity, and a metallic lustre. It is a key source of tungsten, which is used in various industrial applications.
Wolframite is found in quartz veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusives. Associated minerals include cassiterite, scheelite, bismuth, quartz, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, and arsenopyrite. Wolframite is highly valued as the main source of tungsten, a strong and very dense material with a high melting temperature. This makes it useful for electric filaments and armour-piercing ammunition, as well as hard tungsten carbide machine tools.
The name "wolframite" is derived from the German "wolf rahm", which was the name given to tungsten by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius in 1747. This, in turn, is derived from "Lupi spuma", the name used by Georg Agricola for the element in 1546, which translates into English as "wolf's froth" or "wolf's cream". The etymology is not entirely certain but seems to be a reference to the large amounts of tin consumed by the mineral during its extraction, likened to a wolf eating a sheep.
Wolframite is found in placers deposits, usually only a few kilometres from the granitic parent rocks, as the mineral is brittle and quickly crushed during transport. Evidence of boiling and fluid mixing is commonly associated with wolframite mineralization, as would be expected for mineralization associated with shallow igneous activity. Wolframite is also associated with greisen, which is particularly abundant at the margins of wolfram-bearing quartz veins in and around granite.
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Wolframite's historical presence in Europe
Wolframite is a mineral that is highly valued as the main source of the metal tungsten, a strong and very dense material with a high melting temperature. Wolframite is the chief ore of tungsten and is commonly associated with tin ore in and around granite. The name "wolframite" is derived from the German "wolf rahm", which was the name given to tungsten by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius in 1747. This, in turn, is derived from "Lupi spuma", the name used by Georg Agricola for the element in 1546, which translates into English as "wolf's froth" or "wolf's cream". The etymology is not entirely certain but seems to be a reference to the large amounts of tin consumed by the mineral during its extraction, likened to a wolf eating a sheep.
Wolframite is found in quartz veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusives. Wolframite consists of a mixture of varying proportions of the tungstates of iron and manganese, FeWO4 and MnWO4. Wolframite in its pure crystal form exhibits a monoclinic crystal system with a perfect cleavage of {010} and an iron black colour. The mineral is found in Europe in Bohemia, Saxony, and in the UK in Devon and Cornwall.
Wolframite was considered a strategic asset during World War II due to its use in munitions and tools. Wolframite mines were a highly sought-after resource during the war, and its importance in the global conflict brought it to the attention of many nations. The mineral's military applications, particularly in armour-piercing ammunition, underscored its strategic value. Tungsten salts were also used in the 19th century to dye cotton and to make stage costumes that were fire retardant.
Today, tungsten remains a valuable material with a range of modern applications. It is used as a lubricant, with tungsten disulfide (WS2) being able to operate in extreme conditions due to its high-temperature resistance. Tungsten is also used as a catalyst for various chemical reactions, such as hydrocracking, which improves the yield of organic components like gasoline while reducing harmful pollution and by-products.
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Frequently asked questions
Wolframite deposits can be found at Bold Head and Dolphin on King Island off the coast of Tasmania, as well as Mount Lindsay and Kara on the Tasmanian mainland. Queensland also has wolframite deposits at O'Callaghans and Watershed.
Wolframite is an iron, manganese, and tungstate mineral with the chemical formula (Fe,Mn)WO4. It is the main source of tungsten, a strong and dense material with a high melting point.
Wolframite is used to create tungsten, which has a variety of applications. Tungsten is used for electric filaments, ammunition, and machining tools. It is also used as a catalyst for various chemical reactions.
