How much does Scheelite cost?

Scheelite is calcium tungstate - the primary ore of tungsten, one of the most important industrial metals. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal (3,422 degrees Celsius) and is essential for light bulb filaments, cutting tools, armor-piercing ammunition, and high-temperature alloys.

Scheelite's most spectacular property is its fluorescence under shortwave ultraviolet light - it glows an intense, vivid blue-white that's among the brightest fluorescence of any mineral. This fluorescence is so reliable that prospectors use UV lamps at night to locate scheelite deposits in the field. Walking through scheelite-bearing terrain with a UV lamp is one of the most visually dramatic experiences in field geology.

Gem-quality scheelite is faceted into collectors' gems with remarkable fire (dispersion of 0.026, close to diamond's 0.044). Its main limitation is softness (4.5 Mohs) and perfect cleavage, making it impractical for jewelry but spectacular in a collector's display.

Identification Guide

Scheelite is identified by its honey-yellow color, very high density (6.01 - feels extremely heavy), adamantine luster, and diagnostic intense blue-white fluorescence under shortwave UV light. The UV fluorescence is the fastest and most reliable test.

Distinguish from citrine (much lighter weight, no fluorescence), topaz (harder, lighter), and powellite (similar but fluoresces yellow, not blue). The combination of extreme density and vivid UV fluorescence is unique to scheelite.

Spotting Fakes

Scheelite is a specialist mineral not commonly faked. Synthetic scheelite exists for industrial purposes but isn't sold as collector specimens. The UV fluorescence test is essentially foolproof for identification. For gem-quality faceted pieces, the high density and strong UV fluorescence distinguish it from any glass or other simulant.

Some links in this post go to Amazon. Crystal Almanac earns a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Tools recommended here are ones we would use ourselves to run the tests described - the recommendation comes first, the link is downstream of it.

Verify Scheelite Before You Buy

Affiliate picks

Scheelite gets imitated with glass, dyed stand-ins, and cheaper lookalikes. These four tools run the checks in the Spotting Fakes section above, so you can tell real from fake before you pay - online, at a show, or in a shop.

10x triplet jeweler's loupe$20-40
The first tool worth owning. Round gas bubbles (glass), dye pooled in cracks (dyed howlite, magnesite, agate), and flow lines are invisible to the naked eye and obvious at 10x. A triplet lens keeps the edges sharp.
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Mohs hardness pick set~$40
Calibrated picks settle the cheap swaps in seconds - howlite (3.5) sold as turquoise (5-6), glass (5.5) sold as quartz (7). Faster and more accurate than the fingernail-and-knife method.
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0.01g digital pocket scale~$15
Density catches what the eye misses. A glass 'quartz' weighs suspiciously light; lead-loaded plastic 'lapis' weighs suspiciously heavy. Weigh, compare to the known density, and flag the mismatch before the money leaves your hand.
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365nm UV flashlight$20-30
Many stones have a distinctive fluorescence (hyalite opal, fluorite, ruby, scheelite). A longwave UV light is the fastest tiebreaker when a piece passes the other tests but still looks off.
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Cultural & Metaphysical Traditions

Presented as cultural traditions, not scientific evidence

Scheelite has no traditional metaphysical associations - it's primarily an industrial ore mineral and collector specimen. Modern practitioners who work with it associate the UV fluorescence with revealing hidden truth and accessing energies invisible to normal perception. Its connection to tungsten (the highest melting point metal) links it to endurance and persistence.

Metaphysical and “healing” associations are cultural traditions, not medical advice or scientific fact. Crystals are not a substitute for professional medical care.

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Where It's Found

China - Various

Major world producer, fine crystals

South Korea - Various

Historical major source

Austria - Various

Classic European specimens

Brazil - Various

Gem-quality material

Price Guide

Entry$5-20 small specimens

Mid-Range$20-100 crystal specimens

Collector$100-500+ gem-quality or large display

Good to Know

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Scratch test: At hardness 4.5, Scheelite can be scratched with a copper coin. Handle gently and keep away from harder stones in your collection.

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Global supply: Found in 4 notable locations worldwide, from China to Brazil.

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Heft test: With a specific gravity of 6.01, Scheelite feels surprisingly heavy for its size. This weight is actually a useful identification tool.

Care & Safety

What scheelite can and cannot tolerate, based on its hardness (Mohs 4.5) and chemistry (CaWO₄).

Can Scheelite go in water?

Only briefly. Scheelite handles a quick rinse under running water, but should not be soaked or submerged. At Mohs 4.5 it is durable enough for a rinse but not for prolonged exposure. Dry it thoroughly afterward.

Can Scheelite go in salt water?

No. Scheelite only tolerates a brief fresh-water rinse, and salt water is harsher on both counts: corrosive while wet, and abrasive as the salt crystallizes during drying. If it contacts salt water, rinse it with fresh water and dry it promptly.

Water safety for every stone →Full crystal care guide →