Wulfenite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Iifar" title="User:Iifar">Ivar Leidus</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameWulfenite
Chemical FormulaPbMoO4
Mohs Hardness2.5
Crystal Systemtetragonal
Lusteradamantine
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagedistinct on {011}
Fracturesubconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity6.5
Colorsorange, red
Transparencytransparent to translucent
Type LocalityRed Cloud mine, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
Mineral GroupMolybdates
Usescollector's mineral, minor ore of molybdenum
Associated Mineralslimonite, cerussite, anglesite
Description
This specimen features vibrant orange-red tabular crystals of wulfenite, exhibiting sharp crystal faces, set on a small amount of dark matrix.
Geological Context
Wulfenite typically forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zones of lead-zinc ore deposits, often found in arid environments where lead-bearing solutions interact with molybdenum-rich fluids.
