The global tungsten ore resources are relatively rich. There are more than 20 kinds of tungsten minerals and tungsten-containing minerals that have been discovered, namely, wolframite family: wolframite, wolframite, wolframite; scheelite family: scheelite (calcium tungsten ore), molybdenum scheelite, copper scheelite; tungsten calcite minerals: tungsten calcite, hydrotungsten calcite, high-iron tungsten calcite, yttrium tungsten calcite, copper tungsten calcite, hydrotungsten aluminum ore; uncommon tungsten minerals: wolframite, tungsten lead ore, wolframite, molybdenum tungsten lead ore, tungsten bismuth ore, antimony tungsten pyrochlore, titanium yttrium thorium ore (containing tungsten), pyrochlore, etc. Although more than 20 kinds of tungsten minerals and tungsten-containing minerals have been discovered, only wolframite and scheelite have economic value for mining.

Wolframite

Because it contains different proportions of iron tungstate and manganese tungstate, it is also called wolframite, accounting for about 30% of the total global tungsten ore resources. If the iron content is high, it is called tungsten iron ore, and if the manganese content is high, it is called wolframite. The color of wolframite changes with the change of iron and manganese content. Common colors include dark gray, light reddish brown, light brown black, brown and iron brown. Wolframite has a metallic or semi-metallic luster, is brittle and has weak magnetism. Wolframite is mainly produced in high-temperature hydrothermal quartz veins. Southern Jiangxi, eastern Hunan and northern Guangdong in my country are all world-famous wolframite production areas. In addition, Siberia, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, Bolivia and other places in Russia are also the main production areas of wolframite. Wolframite is mainly used to smelt tungsten and manufacture tungstates.

Scheelite

Scheelite is a transparent to translucent mineral with a granular or blocky appearance. The color changes with the change of molybdenum content. Common colors include white, gray, light yellow, light purple, light brown, light red, green, etc. It has an oily luster or glassy luster, accounting for about 70% of the total global tungsten ore resources. Scheelite is luminescent and emits light blue to yellow fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

Scheelite is mainly produced in contact metasomatic deposits, high-temperature hydrothermal veins and greisen. Yaogangxian in Hunan, my country is a world-famous scheelite production area. In addition, Dageng in Jiangxi, Dashunlong in Hunan, Wenshan in Yunnan, Shantang in southern North Korea, Saxony in Germany, Cornwall in the UK, New South Wales in Australia, northern Bolivia and Nevada in the US are also major scheelite production areas. Scheelite is mainly used to produce tungsten iron and can also be used to make permanent magnets.