Wulfenite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameWulfenite
Chemical FormulaPbMoO4
Mohs Hardness2.5
Crystal Systemtetragonal
Lusterresinous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagedistinct on {011}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity6.5
Colorsorange, yellow, red, brown
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityErupción Mine (Ahumada Mine; Erupción-Ahumada Mine), Los Lamentos Mts (Sierra de Los Lamentos), Municipio de Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico
Mineral GroupMolybdates
Usescollector, minor ore of molybdenum, minor ore of lead
Associated Mineralscalcite, mimetite, vanadinite, cerussite
Rarityuncommon
Description
The image displays several bright orange, tabular, square-shaped wulfenite crystals perched on a light-colored, granular matrix, likely calcite. The crystals exhibit a resinous luster and are translucent, allowing some light to pass through their edges.
Geological Context
Wulfenite is a secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of lead-zinc deposits, typically forming in arid or semi-arid environments where lead-bearing solutions react with molybdenum-rich minerals. It often occurs in association with other secondary lead minerals.
