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Wolframite is chemically intermediate between hübnerite and
ferberite, with an unspecified chemical composition.
Localities
At Devil's Peak, Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong, China, the mineralisation occurred in
quartz veins in the contact zone between a
granite intrusion and acid volcanic rocks. The mine is now closed,
and inaccessible for collecting.
Sphalerite occurred in some of the
beryl-wolframite containing
quartz veins.
Chalcopyrite occurred in the quartz veins with
beryl, wolframite,
molybdenite, pyrite and
arsenopyrite
Pyrite occurred as granular or compact masses and cubic crystals with beryl,
wolframite and molybdenite
Topaz occurred as crystals up to 2 cm in length in quartz veins with
beryl, fluorite,
muscovite and wolframite
(Hong Kong Minerals (1991). Peng, C J. Hong Kong Urban Council)
Wolframite from Devil's Peak - Image
The Needle Hill Mine, Needle Hill, Sha Tin District, New Territories, Hong Kong, China, is a tungsten mine, abandoned
in 1967. The principal ore is wolframite, and the principal gangue mineral is
quartz. Molybdenum also occurs. The
mineralisation consists of a series of parallel fissure veins that cut through
granite. Wolframite and
quartz are the main minerals, but galena,
sphalerite, pyrite,
molybdenite and fluorite have also
been found here
(Geological Society of Hong Kong Newsletter 9.3.29-40).
The quartz-wolframite veins are of
high-temperature hydrothermal formation,
and grade into wolframite-bearing
pegmatites.
Wolframite is almost always associated with molybdenite. Other
associated minerals found occasionally include pyrite,
chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite,
sphalerite, bismuth,
fluorite, topaz and cassiterite
(Hong Kong Minerals (1991). Peng, C J. Hong Kong Urban Council)
Wolframite from Needle Hill - Image
The Lin Fa Shan deposit, Tsuen Wan District, New Territories, Hong Kong, China, is located in a remote area of the Tai Mo Shan
Country Park, on a steep west facing slope of Lin Fa Shan, just above the abandoned village of Sheung Tong. The
surrounding hillsides are covered with shallow excavations, representing past searches for
wolframite, the natural ore of
tungsten. The abandoned workings are extremely dangerous with unsupported tunnels, open shafts and no maintenance since
their closures in 1957; the workings should not be entered
(http://industrialhistoryhk.org/lin-shan).
Lin Fa Shan is the only locality in Hong Kong where scheelite is found with
wolframite
(Hong Kong Minerals (1991). Peng, C J. Hong Kong Urban Council).
At the Yaogangxian Mine, Yaogangxian W-Sn ore field, Yizhang County, Chenzhou, Hunan, China wolframite occurs in
quartz matrix, or associated with
stannite and arsenopyrite
(AESS, Mindat photo).
Wolframite from Yaogangxian - Image
At Ban Zi Lin, Dêqên County, Dêqên Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China, black wolframite occurs with brown
limonite
on a whitish quartz matrix
(AESS).
Wolframite from Dêqên County
At Brandy Gill Mine, Mungrisdale, Eden, Cumbria, England, UK, wolframite has been found on a
quartz matrix
(AESS).
Wolframite from the Brandy Gill Mine - Image
At the Carrock Mine, Mungrisdale, Eden, Cumbria, England, UK, wolframite occurs on
quartz
(AESS).
Wolframite from the Carrock Mine - Image
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