The facts
What hübnerite actually is
The species behind hübnerite is wolframite series, Mn²⁺WO₄; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Mn²⁺ with W gives a deep reddish brown that is translucent red in thin splinters is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 2.17–2.32 and a specific gravity of about 7.12–7.18, with perfect in one direction cleavage.
Where hübnerite comes from
Commercial material comes from Pasto Bueno, Áncash, Peru, Adams Mine, Silverton, Colorado, USA and Mundo Nuevo, La Libertad, Peru.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How hübnerite is treated
Untreated. Very high specific gravity for a translucent mineral. Ferberite, the iron endmember, is already a separate entry; hübnerite is the red-translucent counterpart.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What hübnerite is confused with
Watch for Ferberite, Wolframite, Cassiterite and Rutile — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.17–2.32 and specific gravity 7.12–7.18 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What hübnerite is used for
The trades that buy hübnerite are mineral collecting and heavy industry. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the tonne.
Durability and care
Hübnerite is 4–4.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect in one direction cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What hübnerite costs
Expect roughly Specimens 30–800 USD; faceted stones rare, 100–400 USD/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is hübnerite treated, and how?
Untreated. Very high specific gravity for a translucent mineral. Ferberite, the iron endmember, is already a separate entry; hübnerite is the red-translucent counterpart.
Where does hübnerite come from?
Pasto Bueno, Áncash, Peru, Adams Mine, Silverton, Colorado, USA and Mundo Nuevo, La Libertad, Peru. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is hübnerite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4–4.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does hübnerite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 30–800 USD; faceted stones rare, 100–400 USD/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is hübnerite confused with?
Most often Ferberite, Wolframite, Cassiterite and Rutile. A refractive index of 2.17–2.32 and a specific gravity near 7.12–7.18 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for hübnerite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about hübnerite