Wulfenite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Wulfenite

Entry/Object ID

2014.1.80

Description

Chemical Composition: Al(OH)3 Crystal System: Hexagonal System Description: Common Name: Wulfenite Chemistry: PbMoO4, Group: Sulfides Location: Unknown Description: This specimen has one surface covered with a multitude of fine, bladed crystals. The colors are mostly white and tan with some orange to yellowish ones around the perimeter. There are patches of sulfur on a feldspar matrix. Physical Charateristics: Color is red, orange, yellow, silver and white. • Luster is vitreous. • Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent. • Crystal System is tetragonal; 4/m or 4 • Crystal Habits include very thin square or octahedral pinacoidal plates with pyramidal faces truncating just the edges of the crystal. At times the pyramids become prominant and psuedo-dipyramidal crystal habits are seen, sometimes because of twinning. Prismatic faces are also seen and can make psuedo-cubic crystals. Also encrusting and cavernous aggregates due to intergrowth of crystal plates. Cleavage is perfect in one direction. • Fracture is conchoidal. • Hardness is 3. • Specific Gravity is approximately 6.8 (very heavy for translucent minerals) • Streak is white. • Associated Minerals are mimetite, limonite, smithsonite, vanadinite and galena. • Other Characteristics: index of refraction is 2.28-2.40 (very high, but typical of lead minerals). • Notable Occurances include Morocco; Tsumeb, Nambia; Mexico and Arizona and New Mexico, USA. • Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, density and luster. Fracture: Conchoidal Hardness: 3 Calcite Luster: Vitreous Rock Type: Sedimentary Specific Gravity: 6.8 Streak: White

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

Other Number: 2009.62.126

Dimensions

Width

4-3/4 in

Depth

4-1/2 in

Length

5-3/4 in

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-9

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent