mineral
Wulfenite
Lead Molybdate, PbMoO4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness 3; yellow, orange, or red color; resinous to adamantine luster; tetragonal crystal system with tabular habit.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 3; yellow, orange, or red color; resinous to adamantine luster; tetragonal crystal system with tabular habit.
Formation & geological history
Forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zones of lead deposits, primarily associated with hydrothermal veins.
Uses & applications
Used mainly as a collector's mineral specimen due to its striking color and crystal forms, and occasionally as an ore of molybdenum.
Geological facts
Wulfenite was first described in 1845 and is named after Franz Xavier von Wulfen, an Austrian mineralogist.
Field identification & locations
Identified easily by its distinctive thin tabular crystals, bright orange-yellow color, and high density; found famously in Arizona and Slovenia.
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