596 WELLS AND BUTLER: TUNGSTENITE, A NEW MINERAL 



MINERALOGY. — Tungstenite, a new minerals By R. C. 

 Wells and B. S. Butler, Geological Survey. 



Although two sulphides of tungsten are described in text- 

 books of chemistry, none has hitherto been found as a mineral. 

 It is therefore a pleasure to announce the discovery of tungsten 

 sulphide as a prominent mineral in certain specimens of ore 

 from the Little Cottonwood district, Utah. The analysis of 

 the complex mixture in which tungsten sulphide occurs has 

 proved unexpectedly difficult, so that it is not yet possible to 

 state definitely the formula of the sulphide, although it is be- 

 lieved to be WS 2 . As it will require considerable time to com- 

 plete the necessary analytical determinations it seems advisable, 

 in view of the unusual character of the material, to publish our 

 preliminary results at this time. On account of the apparent 

 resemblance to molybdenite in formula and some of its prop- 

 erties the new mineral has been named tungstenite. 



The material in which tungstenite was found was given to Mr. 

 V. C. Heikes, of the Salt Lake City office of the United States 

 Geological Survey, by Mr. J. J. Beeson, geologist for the Emma 

 Consolidated Copper Company, of Little Cottonwood district, 

 Salt Lake County, Utah, with the suggestion that it be tested 

 for selenium. Mr. Heikes forwarded the material to one of 

 the writers (B. S. B.), who has been engaged in geological work 

 in the district and who later, with F. C. Calkins, examined the 

 deposit from which it came, though this was before the character 

 of the mineral had been determined. The chemical examina- 

 tion and recognition of the tungsten sulphide was by the other 

 writer (R. C. W.). No selenium could be determined, but on 

 treating some of the material with aqua regia a yellow insoluble 

 powder was noted and identified as tungstic oxide. Further 

 study indicated that the tungsten is present as sulphide very 

 intimately associated with a number of other minerals. 



The Emma mine, from which the material was obtained, is 

 located in the Little Cottonwood district, Salt Lake County, 

 Utah, about 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The mine was 



1 Published with the permission of the Director of the United States Geologi- 

 cal Survey. 



