A tabular multiple crystal from the Red Cloud Mine near Yuma, Arizona.
This is a singular tabular crystal of Wulfenite from the Red Cloud Mine.
Wulfenite with small yellow sprays of
Mimetite.
Dipyramidal Wulfenites from Mexico.
Wulfenite with Mimetite from the
Rowley Mine, Arizona
CHEMISTRY Pb(MO4) Lead molybdate
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Tetragonal
CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Wulfenite crystals are commonly tabular compressed along the "c" axis. It may also be prismatic or dipyramidal, coarse to fine granular.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES Wulfenite is normally some shade of yellow to orange or brown. It is transparent to translucent.
HARDNESS 2.5 - 3
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 6.5 - 7.0
LUSTER Resinous to adamantine
STREAK White
BREAKABILITY Wulfenite has three fair to poor directions of cleavage and sub conchoidal to uneven fracture and is brittle.
OCCURRENCE Wulfenite is a secondary mineral produced in the oxidized zones of lead and molybdenum deposits.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS Calcite, Fluorite, Quartz, Mimetite, Vanadinite, Galena, Cerussite, Anglesite
NAME Named after an Austrian mineralogist Franz von Wulfen (1728-1805).