Name/Title
WulfeniteEntry/Object ID
2004.1.57Description
Assemblage Zone: pegmatite dikes
Chemical Composition: PbMoO4, Lead Molybdate
Crystal System: Tetragonal System
Description: Common Name: Wulfenite
Group Name: tubular
Chemistry: PbMoO4, Lead Molybdate
Location: M'Fouati, Congo, Africa?
Description: Brownish red crystal shaped like a square but chipped off on one of the corners
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
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).
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, density and luster.
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 3 Calcite
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: It can be most often found as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color, sometimes brown, although the color can be highly variable. In its yellow form it is sometimes called "yellow lead ore".
Notable Occurances include Morocco; Tsumeb, Nambia; Mexico and Arizona and New Mexico, USA.
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 6.8
Streak: white
Variety: Wulfenite is a lead molybdate mineral with the formula PbMoO4. It can be most often found as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color, sometimes brown, although the color can be highly variable. In its yellow form it is sometimes called "yellow lead ore".Collection
Suomynona Mineral Collection, Suomynona CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2004.1Source or Donor
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
1-11/16 inDepth
1/2 inLength
1-5/8 inWeight
0.26 ozDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Drawer
RightShelf
Top, TopWall
east wallBuilding
Freida L Smith HallCategory
PermanentMoved By
Scott LonganDate
August 25, 2009Location
Container
CenterDrawer
2nd ShelfShelf
Left, LeftWall
NorthBuilding
Freida L Smith HallCategory
PermanentMoved By
Wendy MondryDate
August 25, 2009Location
Cabinet
H-2 frontWall
NorthBuilding
Storage (old gift shop upstairs)Category
Permanent
