powellite-scheelite series
Quick Summary
The powellite-scheelite series consists of minerals that are solid solutions of calcium tungstate (scheelite) and calcium molybdate (powellite). Scheelite, CaWO4, is an important ore of tungsten, a metal valued for its use in alloy steels and electric-light filaments. Powellite, CaMoO4, is typically found as a component within scheelite.
These minerals are commonly found in high-temperature veins, granite pegmatites, and contact metasomatic deposits. Scheelite, the more commercially significant of the two, is white, yellow, brown, or green and can fluoresce blue-white or yellow, depending on molybdenum content. The series represents a continuous range where the tungsten in scheelite can be replaced by molybdenum from powellite, and vice versa.12
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