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Wulfenite

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Red Cloud Mine, Silver District, Trigo Mts, La Paz Co., Arizona, USA
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Formula:
Pb(MoO
 
4
)
System:TetragonalColour:Orange-yellow, yellow, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, ResinousHardness:2½ - 3
Member of:Scheelite Group
Name:
Named after Austrian Jesuit mineralogist, Franz Xavier von Wulfen (1728-1805), who authored a monograph on the lead ores of Bleiberg, Austria.


Stolzite-Wulfenite Series.

A secondary mineral typically found as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red, yellow-orange, yellow or yellowish grey colour in the oxidised zones of hydrothermal lead deposits.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Wulfenite. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Wulfenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/G.01-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.GA.05

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
A : Without additional anions or H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:48.1.3.1
Dana 8th edition ID:48.1.3.1

48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
1 : AXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:27.3.3

27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
3 : Molybdates
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Type Occurrence of Wulfenite

Type Locality:Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Mining Academy, Freiberg, Germany.
Year of Discovery:1845

Occurrences of Wulfenite

Geological Setting:Secondary mineral in weathering zone of lead deposits.

Physical Properties of Wulfenite

Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Orange-yellow, yellow, honey-yellow, reddish-orange, rarely colourless, grey, brown, olive-green and even black.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {011}; indistinct on {001}, {013}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):6.5 - 7.5 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.88 g/cm3

Crystallography of Wulfenite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:I41/a
Space Group Setting:I41/a
Cell Parameters:a = 5.433Å, c = 12.110Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.229
Unit Cell Volume:V 357.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals commonly thin tabular {001}, square, exhibiting {001}, with flat or rounded vicinal faces, {010}; may be elongated [001], or pyramidal {011}, with the pyramid truncating or replacing {001}; more rarely pseudo-octahedral; and very rarely either cubic or short prismatic pyramidal. Commonly exhibits additional forms, some exhibiting pyramidal hemihedrism; granular, massive.
Twinning:Twinning on {001} as contact twins; common but rarely seen due to the typical {001} morphology.
Comment:Class may be 4/m or -4; space Group may be I41/a or I-4. Cell parameters for space group I-4: a = 5.441, c = 12.068 A.
Crystal Atlas:
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Wulfenite no.10 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Wulfenite no.39 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Wulfenite no.44 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Wulfenite no.54 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Wulfenite no.68 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Wulfenite no.81 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Wulfenite - Contact twin on {00-1}
Wulfenite - {110}, {001}, {00-1}, overgrown with small pyramidal crystals

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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Structure
  Reference
Lugli C Medici L Saccardo D (1999) Natural wulfenite: structural refinement by single-crystal X-ray diffraction Locality: Monte Cengio, Vicenza, Italy. Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1999:281-288.

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More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.96 (10)
3.24 (100)
3.03 (20)
2.72 (25)
2.02 (30)
1.921 (10)
1.787 (18)
1.653 (25)

Optical Data of Wulfenite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 2.405 nε = 2.283
2V:Measured: 8°
Birefringence:0.122
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.122

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Optical Extinction:Parallel
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Orange and yellow
Comments:May be anomalously biaxial.

Chemical Properties of Wulfenite

Formula:
Pb(MoO
 
4
)
Essential elements:Mo, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:Mo, O, Pb
Common Impurities:W,Ca,V,As,Cr,W,Ti

Relationship of Wulfenite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Stolzite (see here)
Member of:Scheelite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Powellite
Ca(MoO
 
4
)
Raspite
Pb(WO
 
4
)
Scheelite
Ca(WO
 
4
)
Stolzite
Pb(WO
 
4
)
Common Associates:
VanadiniteSmithsonitePyromorphitePlattneriteMimetite
LimoniteHemimorphiteFluoriteDescloiziteCerussite
Anglesite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.GA.05Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
7.GA.05Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O
 
4
7.GA.05Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
7.GA.05Powellite
Ca(MoO
 
4
)
7.GA.05Scheelite
Ca(WO
 
4
)
7.GA.05Stolzite
Pb(WO
 
4
)
7.GA.10Formanite-(Y)
YTaO
 
4
7.GA.10Iwashiroite-(Y)
Y(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
7.GA.15Paraniite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
Y(AsO
 
4
)(WO
 
4
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
27.3.1Lindgrenite
Cu
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
27.3.2Powellite
Ca(MoO
 
4
)
27.3.4Koechlinite
Bi
 
2
MoO
 
6
27.3.5Sedovite
U(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
27.3.6Mourite
UMo
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
10
27.3.7Iriginite
(UO
 
2
)Mo
 
2
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
27.3.8Umohoite
(UO
 
2
)MoO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
27.3.9Moluranite
H
 
4
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)
 
7
 · 18H
 
2
O
27.3.10Cousinite
MgU
 
2
Mo
 
2
O
 
11
 · 6H
 
2
O
27.3.11Calcurmolite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
Mo
 
2
(O,OH)
 
11
 · nH
 
2
O
27.3.12Tengchongite
CaO · 6UO
 
3
 · 2MoO
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
27.3.13Kamiokite
Fe
 
2
Mo
 
3
O
 
8
27.3.14Ferrimolybdite
Fe
 
2
(MoO
 
4
)
 
3
 · nH
 
2
O

Other Names for Wulfenite

Synonyms:
CarinthiteLead molybdateMolybdate of LeadMolybdenated Lead OreYellow Lead Ore
Yellow Leadspar
Other Languages:
Basque:Wulfenita
Bosnian (Latin Script):Vulfenit
Catalan:Wulfenita
Dutch:Wulfeniet
French:Wulfénite
Mélinose
Plomb jaune
Plomb molybdaté
German:Wulfenit
Bleimolybdat
Carinthit
Gelbbleierz
Kärntherischer Bleispath
Molybdänbleierz
Molybdänbleirz
Molybdänbleispath
Italian:Wulfenite
Latin:Plumbum spatosum flavo-rubrum
Polish:Wulfenit
Portuguese:Wulfenite
Russian:Вульфенит
Serbian (Cyrillic Script):Вулфенит
Simplified Chinese:钼铅矿
彩钼铅矿
Slovak:Wulfenit
Spanish:Wulfenita
Carinthita
Ukrainian:Вульфеніт
Varieties:
Calcian WulfeniteChillagiteChromian WulfeniteTungstenoan WulfeniteVanadian Wulfenite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Fluorescence noted from a small number of localities. Medium intensity Yellow in LW
Electrical:Some individual crystals may be piezoelectric.
Thermal Behaviour:Melting Point 1065° C.
Other Information:Decomposed by evaporation in HCl with the separation of lead chloride and molybdic oxide. Soluble in concentrated H2SO4 and alkalies. Decomposed by HNO3 with the separation of molybdic oxide.

Reported to alter to Descloizite, Ilsemannite and Vanadinite.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Wulfenite

Reference List:

- +
Born, I. von (1772) Lythophylacium Bornianum; Index fossiliumquae colligit, etc., Prague. part 1: 90 (as Plumbum spatosum flavo-rubrum).

Jacquin (1781) Misc. Austriaca, Vienna: 2 (as Kärntherischer Bleispath).

de Lisle, R. (1783) Cristallographie, ou description des formes propres à tous les corps du regne minéral. 4 volumes, Paris: 3: 387 (as Plomb jaune).

Wulfen, F. X. von (1785): Abhandlung vom kärnthnerischen Bleyspate. J. P. Krauß, Vienna, 150 pp. (as Kärntherischer Bleispat)

Kirwan, R. (1796) Elements of Mineralogy. second edition: 2: 212 (as Yellow Leadspar, Molybdenated Lead Ore).

Klaproth, M.H. (1797): Untersuchung des Gelb-Bleierzes, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Zweiter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 265-275

Haüy, R.J. (1801) Traité de minéralogie. First edition: in 4 volumes with atlas in fol. Paris: 3: 353 (as Plomb molybdaté).

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Traité élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 664 (as Mélinose).

Haidinger (1845) Handbuch bestimm. Min., first ed.: 504 (as Wulfenit).

Smith, J.L. (1855) American Journal of Science: 20: 245.

Wöhler (1857) Ann. Chem. Pharm.: 102: 383.

Schrauf (1871) Königliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, Sitzber.: 63: 176.

Rammelsberg, C.F. (1875) Handbuch der Mineralchemie. second edition: 283 (Domeyko analysis).

Wulfen (1875) Abhandl. vom Kärntherischer Bleispath, Vienna.

Koksharov, N. von (1878) Materialien zur Mineralogie Russlands. 11 volumes with atlas: vol. 8: 394.

Groth (1882) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 7: 592.

Regnard (1882) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 5: 2.

Zepharovich (1883) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 8: 583.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 989.

de Gramont (1893) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 16: 127.

Traube (1896) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 10: 457.

Ites (1903) Preisschr. Göttingen [corrected by Ehringhaus (1920) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 43: 566.

Johnsen (1908) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 712.

Baumhauer (1910) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 47: 7.

Ullman (1912) Journal of the Royal Society of New South Wales: 46: 186.

Mingaye (1916) Records of the Geological Survey of New South Wales: 9: 171.

Jaeger and Germs (1921) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 119: 158.

Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 8: 12.

Zambonini (1923) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 58: 226.

Barthoux (1924) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 47: 36.

Hlawatsch (1925) Annalen des naturhistorischen Staats-Museums: 38: 15.

Bach (1926) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 54: 380.

Comucci (1926) Atti della Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, Att.: 3: 335.

Shannon (1926) U.S. National Museum Bulletin 131: 474.

Vegard (1926) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 1: 1151.

Doelter, C. (1927) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4 [2]: 785.

Honess, A.P. (1927) The Nature, Origin and Interpretation of the Etch Figures on Crystals. 171pp., New York: 92.

Vegard and Refsum (1927) Norske Videnskaps-Akademi, Oslo. Skrifter, Mat.-Nat. Kl., no. 2.:

Hintze, Carl (1929) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 4059.

Padurova (1929) Mem. soc. russe min.: 58: 109.

Jung (1931) Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd. 64A: 197.

Royer (1936) Comptes rendus de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 202: 1346.

Barić (1939) Min. Abstracts: 7: 360.

Sillén and Nylander (1943) Arkiv för Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi, Stockholm: 17A, no. 4.

Russell (1946) Mineralogical Magazine: 27: 151.

Koning (1948) Proc. Kon. Nederl. Ak. Wet.: 51: 390.

Schroll (1949) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: [3], 1: 325.

Haberlandt and Schroll (1950) Experientia: 6: 89.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 1081-1086.

National Bureau of Standards Circular 539 (1957), 7, 23.

American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 1212.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 121: 158-164.

Huber, P. (1994): Annaberg oder Bleiberg? Zur Typlokalität des Wulfenits. Lapis, 19 (2), 21-24; 50 (in German).

Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 999.

Hibbs, D.E., C.M. Jury, P. Leverett, I.R. Plimer, and P.A. Williams (2000) An explanation for the origin of hemihedrism in wulfenite: the single-crystal structures of I41/a and I4 wulfenites. Mineralogical Magazine, 64, 1057–1062.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 764.

Secco, L., Nestola, F. and Dal Negro, A. (2008): The wulfenite–stolzite series: centric or acentric structures? Mineralogical Magazine, 72, 987-990.

I. Cora, M. Czugler, I. Dódony and A. Recnik (2011): On the symmetry of wulfenite (Pb[MoO4]) from Mezica (Slovenia). Acta Crystallographica C67, i33-i35.

Mindat.org articles about Wulfenite

Article entries:
Collecting Minerals at Bad BleibergRudolf Hasler

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