258-267 Tungstates and Molybdates

The minerals that make up this class are composed of either the element of tungsten or molybdenum, or a mixture of both, in combination with a metal.

Tungstates are very important industrial minerals yielding tungsten metal, which when mixed with iron, produces strong corrosion-resistant steel. The metal is also used extensively in the manufacture of filaments for light-bulbs and vacuum tubes. Molybdates are also important ores that are used as an alloy in stainless steel to make it stronger and more resistant to heat.

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