Tungsten (W, atomic number 74) is a rare, dense metallic element. This metal is notable for having the highest melting point of all known pure metals, making it uniquely suited for extreme temperature applications. Tungsten is not found in its pure state in nature but is chemically bound within various mineral compounds. The history of tungsten involves separate discoveries in two distinct minerals, eventually leading to the identification of a single new element.
The Initial Identification of Tungsten Ores
The scientific journey of tungsten began with the recognition of its presence in two mineral forms. One was wolframite, which gave the element its alternative name, Wolfram, and its chemical symbol, W, derived from the German name for the mineral. The second was a white, heavy stone first named tungsten by Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt in 1758, a name derived from the Swedish words tung and sten, meaning “heavy stone.”
The crucial step toward isolating the element occurred in 1781 through the work of Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. Scheele experimented with the mineral now known as scheelite, the original “heavy stone.” He successfully demonstrated that a new, previously unknown acid could be extracted from the mineral, which he named tungstic acid. Scheele’s finding strongly suggested that a new, undiscovered metallic element was contained within this acid. However, Scheele did not succeed in reducing the acid to its pure metallic form.
The Chemical Isolation of the Element
The final, successful isolation of the pure metal was achieved by the Spanish brothers Fausto and Juan José Elhuyar. They conducted their research at the Royal Basque Society of Friends of the Country in the town of Bergara, Spain. Their work focused on wolframite, the other main tungsten-bearing mineral, after studying Scheele’s findings.
The Elhuyar brothers determined that wolframite also contained the tungstic acid Scheele had discovered in scheelite. In 1783, they performed a high-temperature reduction experiment, heating the tungstic acid derived from wolframite in the presence of charcoal. The charcoal acted as a reducing agent, stripping the oxygen atoms from the tungstic acid. This process successfully yielded a small pellet of the heavy, pure metallic element, marking the first isolation of tungsten. The brothers published their findings in 1783, officially establishing the element’s existence and securing the date of its discovery.
Major Global Deposits and Extraction
While the element’s isolation occurred in Europe, the geological reality of tungsten is that its reserves are heavily concentrated elsewhere. Tungsten is primarily found in its two main ore minerals, wolframite and scheelite, which are concentrated in specific areas of the Earth’s crust. Today, the global supply landscape is dominated by a single nation, reflecting a significant geographical concentration of deposits.
China holds the world’s largest reserves of tungsten, controlling over half of the global total. This geological advantage translates into market dominance, with China consistently producing a vast majority of the world’s tungsten supply, often exceeding 80% of the total output. Other nations with significant, though much smaller, reserves include Russia, Vietnam, and Canada.
The extraction process involves mining the ore, followed by complex chemical processing to separate the pure tungsten. Historically, these ores are linked to regions associated with orogenic belts, where tectonic plates have collided. Developing a tungsten supply outside of China is a strategic focus for many nations, though it requires substantial investment and time to establish new mining and processing infrastructure.
Why Tungsten Matters Today
Tungsten’s discovery proved significant because of its unique physical properties, which make it irreplaceable in modern industrial applications. It possesses the highest melting point of all metals, approximately 3,422 degrees Celsius, and features exceptional density and hardness, only slightly less hard than diamond. These characteristics allow it to function under conditions that would cause other metals to fail.
The majority of tungsten, around two-thirds, is used to manufacture cemented carbides, or hardmetals. These materials are formed by combining tungsten carbide powder with a binder metal, such as cobalt, to create extremely durable tools. Its high melting point also made it the material of choice for the filament in incandescent light bulbs.
Primary Applications
- Cutting tools
- Drill bits
- Wear-resistant parts for mining and construction
- High-temperature alloys used in aerospace engines and high-speed steels
- Electronic contacts and welding applications