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Wüstite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Wüstite
Fritz Wüst
Formula:
FeO
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
5.88
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
Named after Fritz Wüst (8 July 1860, Berg (near Stuttgart), Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire - 20 March 1938, Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Whesphalia, Germany), German metallurgist and Director for Iron Research of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute, Dusseldorf, Germany.
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Wustite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4316
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4316:4
Similar Names
| Justite (of Hofmann-Degen) | A variety of Åkermanite | (Ca,Fe,Zn,Mg)3Si2O7 |
IMA Classification of Wüstite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Fe2+O
Type description reference:
Schenck, Rudolf, Dingmann, Th., Bökmann, J., Ebert, W., Kesting, W., Lepetit, G., Müller, Joh., Pratje, W. (1927) Gleichgewichtsuntersuchungen über die Reduktions-, Oxydations- und Kohlungsvorgänge beim Eisen. III. 4. Systematische Untersuchungen über die Reduktions- und Oxydationsbeziehungen zwischen den Eisenoxyden, Eisen, Kohlenmonoxyd und Kohlendioxyd. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 166. 113-154 doi:10.1002/zaac.19271660111
Classification of Wüstite
4.AB.25
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only
4.2.1.6
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
2 : AX
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
2 : AX
7.20.1
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
20 : Oxides of Fe
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
20 : Oxides of Fe
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Wüs | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Wus | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
| Wus | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Wus | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Wus | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Wüstite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
5.88 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.97 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wüstite
Colour in reflected light:
gray
Chemistry of Wüstite
Mindat Formula:
FeO
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Wüstite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fm3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.296 Å
Unit Cell V:
79.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Modulated structure.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.146 Å | (10) |
| 1.518 Å | (8) |
| 2.476 Å | (7) |
| 1.297 Å | (4) |
| 1.243 Å | (4) |
| 1.074 Å | (1) |
| 0.985 Å | (1) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 8 : Mafic igneous rocks | |
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 38 : Ophiolites | |
| 42 : Sea-floor Mn nodules |
Type Occurrence of Wüstite
Reference:
Schenck, Rudolf, Dingmann, Th., Bökmann, J., Ebert, W., Kesting, W., Lepetit, G., Müller, Joh., Pratje, W. (1927) Gleichgewichtsuntersuchungen über die Reduktions-, Oxydations- und Kohlungsvorgänge beim Eisen. III. 4. Systematische Untersuchungen über die Reduktions- und Oxydationsbeziehungen zwischen den Eisenoxyden, Eisen, Kohlenmonoxyd und Kohlendioxyd. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 166. 113-154 doi:10.1002/zaac.19271660111
Synonyms of Wüstite
Other Language Names for Wüstite
Varieties of Wüstite
| Magnesiowüstite | Fe-bearing variety of periclase. Used synonymously with ferropericlase. |
Relationship of Wüstite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Periclase Group:
| Bunsenite | NiO | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Manganosite | MnO | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Periclase | MgO | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Wüstite associated with 'Kamacite' | (Fe,Ni) |
| 5 photos of Wüstite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 3 photos of Wüstite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 2 photos of Wüstite associated with Schreibersite | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| 2 photos of Wüstite associated with Native Iron | Fe |
| 2 photos of Wüstite associated with Serpierite | Ca(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 2 photos of Wüstite associated with Taenite | (Ni,Fe) |
| 1 photo of Wüstite associated with 'Slag' | |
| 1 photo of Wüstite associated with Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Wüstite associated with Troilite | FeS |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.AB. | 'Carbon Monoxide Ice' | CO |
| 4.AB.05 | Crednerite | Cu+Mn3+O2 |
| 4.AB.10 | Tenorite | CuO |
| 4.AB.15 | Mcconnellite | CuCrO2 |
| 4.AB.15 | Delafossite | Cu+Fe3+O2 |
| 4.AB.20 | Bromellite | BeO |
| 4.AB.20 | Zincite | ZnO |
| 4.AB.25 |
Sikhote-Alin meteorite, Paseka, Krasnoarmeysky District, Primorsky Krai, Russia