mineral

Wulfenite

Lead Molybdate, PbMoO4

Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale. Color: Yellow, orange, red, brown, or grayish. Luster: Adamantine to sub-resinous. Crystal Structure: Tetragonal, typically forming thin, tabular crystals or square plates. Cleavage: Good on {011}. Specific Gravity: 6.5 to 7.0.

Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale
Color: Yellow, orange, red, brown, or grayish
Luster: Adamantine to sub-resinous

Identified August 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zones of lead deposits, typically in hydrothermal veins or cavities in limestone. Associated with other secondary lead minerals such as cerussite and anglesite.

Uses & applications

Primarily sought after by mineral collectors due to its vibrant colors and striking tabular crystal habit. It is an minor ore of molybdenum.

Geological facts

Wulfenite was first described in 1845 by Austrian mineralogist Wilhelm von Haidinger, who named it after Franz Xavier von Wulfen, an Austrian mineralogist and botanist.

Field identification & locations

Easily identifiable in the field by its distinctive bright orange-yellow or red color, high specific gravity (feels heavy for its size), and characteristic thin square tabular crystal habit. Found famously in locations such as the Red Tiger Mine in Arizona, USA, and Los Lamentos in Chihuahua, Mexico.