scheelite
/ˈʃiːlʌɪt
/noun [mass noun]
A fluorescent mineral, white when pure, which consists of calcium tungstate and is an important ore of tungsten.At least ten tungsten minerals are reported, but ‘wolframite’ and scheelite are the only two with significant economic distribution and concentration....
- World War II brought a tungsten boom, and the bright fluorescence of scheelite made it an obvious target for night prospecting.
- The common occurrence of scheelite rather than ferberite is believed to reflect lithologic differences in host rocks.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from the name of Carl W. Scheele (1742–86), Swedish chemist, + -ite1.