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Glite Dictionary
wolframite

wolframite

9.9
A dark, heavy mineral people mine to get tungsten metal
  • noun
  • /ˈwʊlfrəˌmaɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : wolframita
  • In his research, he discovered that wolframite is essential for creating high-strength steel alloys.

Examples

  • Wolframite is an important mineral used in the production of wolframite for various industrial applications.

  • A new Form SD will require that public companies evaluate the use of certain minerals: columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, gold, wolframite, or their derivatives; and make specific disclosures regarding the use and origin of these minerals (referred to collectively as "conflict minerals").

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  • The geologist examined the wolframite samples, noting their distinct brown to black coloration.

Synonyms

iron manganese tungsten
vswolframite
  • Specialized
9.9

A hard crystal mineral with iron and manganese mined for the metal tungsten

has identical meaning but uses the more common mineral name

Surface Forms

wolframite singular
wolframites plural

Morphology

wolframite = wolfram (semi-transparent) = wolfram + ite

Formed by the productive mineral suffix '-ite' added to 'wolfram', but 'wolfram' is an uncommon name (learners more likely know 'tungsten'), so the derivation may not be obvious to typical learners.

Etymology

The word wolframite comes from the old German name Wolfram, which includes wolf and refers to a miners' story that the rock would 'devour' the tin in their ore. The ending -ite means 'mineral', as in graphite, so wolframite is the mineral that yields the metal tungsten.