On this page
UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural inorganic gem materials · Mineral species · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Scheelite
A calcium tungstate mineral species with the formula CaWO4; the color and treatment of any given sample still need to be determined by testing. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Scheelite forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale; where its colour and optical effects come from, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify ScheeliteHow far lab testing can go and whether a synthetic exists
- Caring for and wearing ScheeliteDurability indicators and wearing advice
- Mohs hardness of ScheeliteEach value with its source and check date
- Scheelite in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name; and: Which of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A have a name for it on record, and do those agree?
- Name origin and history of ScheeliteWhere the name comes from
- Listing and disclosing ScheeliteThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale
- Standard clauses that define ScheeliteWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Scheelite is a tungstate mineral with the formula CaWO4 and is one of the most important ores of tungsten. It is typically a component of contact-metamorphic tactite, and also occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and greisen, less commonly in granite pegmatites and medium-temperature hydrothermal veins, and as alluvial deposits. Scheelite is tetragonal with typically pseudo-octahedral crystals; it shows bright bluish white cathodoluminescence and fluorescence under short-wave UV and X-rays, a distinctive identifying feature. It forms a series with powellite.
Scope: Applies to the genesis, occurrence, composition and fluorescence of natural scheelite as a mineral species; does not cover synthetic calcium tungstate or industrial tungsten smelting products.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Where it forms
Occurs as a constituent of contact-metamorphic tactite.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Veins of high-temperature hydrothermal origin, and greisen.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Granite pegmatites, medium-temperature hydrothermal veins, and alluvial deposits
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
How it forms, step by step
In contact-metamorphic (tactite) settings, calcium and tungsten combine to crystallize scheelite.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
In high-temperature hydrothermal veins and greisen, scheelite precipitates in association with cassiterite, wolframite, fluorite, tourmaline, and others.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
It occurs in smaller amounts in pegmatites and medium-temperature veins, and after weathering and transport forms alluvial deposits.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Link to appearance
The colour of scheelite spans colourless through white, grey, brown, pale yellow and yellow-orange to pale orange, red and green, and the mineral may show compositional colour zoning; its lustre is vitreous to adamantine. Under short-wave UV and X-rays it displays bright bluish-white fluorescence and cathodoluminescence — its most distinctive identifying feature. Crystals are usually pseudo-octahedral, and often granular or massive.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Timescale
The source states no absolute geological timescale for scheelite formation.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Supporting findings
Scheelite is typically a component of contact-metamorphic tactite, and also occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and greisen, less commonly in granite pegmatites and medium-temperature hydrothermal veins, and as alluvial deposits.
Evidence grade BScope: Describes scheelite's occurrence and host environments.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Recorded localities
Authoritative sources list the localities below; the list is not exhaustive.
Africa
- Natas mine, about 80 km south of Windhoek, NamibiaSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Asia
- Tenkergin, Chukotka, RussiaSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Taewha mine, Chungju, North Chungcheong, South KoreaSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Pia Oac, northern VietnamSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Xuebaoding, near Pingwu, Sichuan, ChinaSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Europe
- Bispberg iron mine, near Säter, Dalarna, SwedenSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Altenberg, Saxony, GermanySpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Schwarzenberg, Saxony, GermanySpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Cínovec, CzechiaSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Horní Slavkov (Schlaggenwald), CzechiaSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Traversella, Piedmont, ItalySpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
North America
- Flat River Valley, Northwest Territories, CanadaHoM describes this as a large / commercially mined tungsten deposit, not as a gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Cohen mine, Dragoon Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, United StatesSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Pine Creek mine, near Bishop, Inyo County, California, United StatesHoM describes this as a large / commercially mined tungsten deposit, not as a gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
- Mitopilas (as printed), Sonora, MexicoSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
South America
- Morro Velho gold mine, Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, BrazilSpecimen/occurrence locality listed by the Handbook of Mineralogy; not a commercial gem source
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Causes of colour and optical effects
Scheelite shows bright bluish white fluorescence under short-wave UV and X-rays, along with cathodoluminescence.
Evidence grade BScope: Describes scheelite's fluorescence/luminescence; the source gives no specific mechanism.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
The colour of scheelite spans colourless through white, grey, brown, pale yellow and yellow-orange to pale orange, red and green, and the mineral may show compositional colour zoning.
Evidence grade BScope: Describes scheelite's color and compositional zoning; the source lists no specific chromophore.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Where the name comes from
Scheelite is named for Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742–1786), who established that the mineral contains tungsten.
Evidence grade BScope: The etymology explains the origin of a name only; it does not attest composition, locality, naturalness or treatment.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Other research findings
Scheelite has the formula CaWO4 and forms a series with powellite.
Evidence grade BScope: Concerns scheelite's composition and series relationship.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Scheelite is an important ore of tungsten, and the mineral is named for Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), who determined that it contained tungsten.
Evidence grade BScope: Concerns scheelite's naming and science history, not genesis.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- The source states no absolute age or specific P-T conditions for scheelite formation.
- The source gives no physical mechanism for scheelite's fluorescence.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Scheelite
GB/T 16552—2017 5.1.1 b) · IMA Mineral List 2026-07 “Scheelite”
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
Scheelite is Scheelite (IMA mineral species, CaWO4); use "Scheelite" for listings, and disclose any known treatments.
Evidence
- GB/T · 5.1.1 b)
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Scheelite" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Care and wear
No institutional care guidance is registered for this material yet; below are its durability indicators and general guidance.
Durability and wearing
Numbers in curly braces, such as {111}, are crystallographic face symbols (Miller indices): each marks a set of crystal faces or cleavage planes. They are reproduced as written in the cited source.
Mohs hardness
4.5–5
Cleavage
{101} distinct; {112} interrupted; {001} indistinct
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Daily wear
Scheelite is Mohs 4.5–5, relatively soft with several cleavage directions; suited to collecting, while daily wear needs care against scratching and impact fracture. It fluoresces brightly under strong UV.
Care
Clean gently with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth; avoid ultrasonic/steam cleaners, chemicals and impact.
General guidance: LumaLark's general guidance inferred from the material's properties (hardness, toughness, cleavage); not text from the cited source, and not a guarantee for any specific piece.
Scope: This field describes general material properties and does not constitute a durability or safety warranty for any specific finished product; the durability of treated (filling/dyeing/coating) or assembled pieces must be assessed separately.
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Standard and listing namesScheelite is named by its mineral/material name under GB/T 16552—2017; it is not listed in Annex A of the standard and can be named directly, and the suggested listing name is Scheelite. Trade and mineralogical namesThe mineralogical name is Scheelite, an IMA mineral species with the formula CaWO4. Institution usageOn authority wording, CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 records Scheelite; the FTC text on file has been checked and contains no wording for the name Scheelite; GIA and Gem-A are unchecked; bodies without a recorded wording show the English name Scheelite, which does not represent their position. Japanese namesThe formal name of Japan's GSJ is given in Japanese. Names in four languagesFour-language names are given in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Scheelite) and Japanese. Scheelite is a mineral species among natural inorganic gem materials.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- 灰重石
- Mineral / material name (not in GB/T 16552 Annex A; usable directly)
- 白钨矿 (GB/T 16552—2017 §5.1.1 b))
- Mineralogical name
- Scheelite (IMA mineral species, CaWO4)
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 白钨矿
- 繁體中文
- 白鎢礦
- English
- Scheelite
- 日本語
- シーライト／灰重石
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Borate and tungstate minerals
- Identity tier
- Mineral species
- Mineral chemical class
- Borates and tungstates
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
What it is and how it's identified
The registered material facts for Scheelite include: nomenclature status IMA status G, meaning grandfathered, described before the IMA existed and generally regarded as a valid mineral species; composition (phase) scheelite; transparency transparent to translucent; body colour yellow, orange, brown or colourless, with the treatment state for body colour untreated. A further note on body colour, added by the entry's maintainers, states that in chapter 7 of the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book, the colour descriptions for entries such as moonstone, citrine and andesine also mention yellow or yellowish colours.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Scheelite — nomenclature status: IMA status G: grandfathered (described before the IMA existed, and generally regarded as a valid species).
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Scheelite — composition (phase): scheelite
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Optical
Scheelite — transparency: transparent to translucent.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Scheelite — body colour: Yellow, orange, brown, colourless.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Qualification
In chapter 7 of the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book, the colour descriptions of Moonstone, Citrine, Andesine and other entries also name yellow or a yellowish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Testing and market
How far testing can go
Scheelite — synthetic counterpart on the market: A synthetic counterpart of this material is commercially available
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Scheelite has a direct definition in the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the term Scheelite; CIBJO defines it as the mineral species scheelite with IMA status G, and notes that the CIBJO wording is quoted in full under Clause-level definitions on this page. The cross-check result is that it is defined directly by CIBJO, and no identically named English entry was found in the GB/T 16552—2017 annex. The IMA mineral list entry gives Scheelite Ca(WO4) G 1821 and is cross-checked against the main table of the RRUFF/IMA mineral list; the data are in the public domain.
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| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheelite | 7.2.1.210 | Yellow, orange, brown, colourless, transparent to translucent | Defined directly by CIBJO; no identically named English entry was found in this edition of the GB/T annex. |
| Scheelite | IMA Mineral List entry | Scheelite Ca(WO4) G 1821 | Cross-checked against the RRUFF/IMA master mineral list (public domain data). |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- RRUFF Project, in partnership with the IMA – International Mineralogical Association. IMA Mineral List.
- Geological Survey of Japan, AIST (Japan). Museum mineral specimens, browse by classification.
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Borate and tungstate minerals | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Scheelite entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.