Wulfenite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Chris Whitney-Smith
About Wulfenite
Franz Xaver von Wulfen
Formula:
Pb(MoO4)
Colour:
Orange-yellow, yellow, honey-yellow, reddish-orange, rarely colourless, grey, brown, olive-green and even black.
Lustre:
Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, Resinous
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
6.5 - 7.5
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Renamed in 1845 by Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger in honor of Franz Xaver Freiherr von Wulfen [November 5, 1728, Belgrade, Serbia - March 16, 1805, Klagenfurt, Austria], botanist, mineralogist, alpinist and a member of the Order of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit). Wulfen authored a monograph on the lead ores of Bleiberg, Austria. This mineral was originally named "plumbum spatosum flavo-rubrum, ex Annaberg, Austria" in 1772 by Ignaz von Born. In 1781, Joseph Franz Edler von Jacquin called the mineral "KΓ€rntherischer bleispath". Other names were later proposed.
Type Locality:
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.
In unique situations, it may precipitate from volcanic fumarole gas, in temperatures from 400 to 550Β°C (Africano et al., 2002).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Wulfenite.
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.
In unique situations, it may precipitate from volcanic fumarole gas, in temperatures from 400 to 550Β°C (Africano et al., 2002).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Wulfenite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4322
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4322:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
805e4b6a-5701-4dab-bf87-e8162a01ffd1
IMA Classification of Wulfenite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
PbMoO4
Classification of Wulfenite
7.GA.05
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
A : Without additional anions or H2O
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
A : Without additional anions or H2O
Dana 7th ed.:
48.1.3.1
48.1.3.1
48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
1 : AXO4
48 : ANHYDROUS MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
1 : AXO4
27.3.3
27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
3 : Molybdates
27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
3 : Molybdates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAβCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMAβCNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMAβCNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Wul | IMAβCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAβCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Wul | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Wulfenite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Wulfenite
Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Orange-yellow, yellow, honey-yellow, reddish-orange, rarely colourless, grey, brown, olive-green and even black.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct on {011}; indistinct on {001}, {013}.
Distinct on {011}; indistinct on {001}, {013}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
6.5 - 7.5 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.88 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wulfenite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 2.405 nε = 2.283
2V:
Measured: 8°
Birefringence:
0.122
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.122
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
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.
Chemistry of Wulfenite
Mindat Formula:
Pb(MoO4)
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
W,Ca,V,As,Cr,W,Ti
Crystallography of Wulfenite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/a
Setting:
I41/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.433 Å, c = 12.110 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.229
Unit Cell V:
357.46 Γ
Β³ (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.
Crystallographic forms of Wulfenite
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
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010618 | Wulfenite | Leciejewicz J (1965) A neutron crystallographic investigation of lead molybdenum oxide, PbMoO4 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 121 158-164 |  | 1965 | Los Lamentos, Mexico | 0 | 293 |
| 0014900 | Wulfenite | Lugli C, Medici L, Saccardo D (1999) Natural wulfenite: structural refinement by single-crystal X-ray diffraction Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1999 281-288 | 1999 | Monte Cengio, Vicenza, Italy | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.96 Γ | (10) |
| 3.24 Γ | (100) |
| 3.03 Γ | (20) |
| 2.72 Γ | (25) |
| 2.02 Γ | (30) |
| 1.921 Γ | (10) |
| 1.787 Γ | (18) |
| 1.653 Γ | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Secondary mineral in weathering zone of lead deposits.
Type Occurrence of Wulfenite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Academy, Freiberg, Germany.
Synonyms of Wulfenite
Other Language Names for Wulfenite
Basque:Wulfenita
Bosnian:Vulfenit
Catalan:Wulfenita
Dutch:Wulfeniet
German:Wulfenit
Bleimolybdat
Carinthit
Gelbbleierz
KΓ€rntherischer Bleispath
MolybdΓ€nbleierz
MolybdΓ€nbleirz
MolybdΓ€nbleispath
Bleimolybdat
Carinthit
Gelbbleierz
KΓ€rntherischer Bleispath
MolybdΓ€nbleierz
MolybdΓ€nbleirz
MolybdΓ€nbleispath
Italian:Wulfenite
Polish:Wulfenit
Portuguese:Wulfenite
Russian:ΠΡΠ»ΡΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΡ
Serbian:ΠΡΠ»ΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΡ
Simplified Chinese:ιΌι
ηΏ
彩ιΌι ηΏ
ιΌι Έι ηΏ
彩ιΌι ηΏ
ιΌι Έι ηΏ
Slovak:Wulfenit
Spanish:Wulfenita
Carinthita
Carinthita
Ukrainian:ΠΡΠ»ΡΡΠ΅Π½ΡΡ
Varieties of Wulfenite
| Calcium-bearing Wulfenite | A calcium-bearing variety of Wulfenite with Ca substituting for Pb up to at least Ca:Pb = 1:1.7. Gravity decreases with Ca content increase, as well as unit-cell dimensions and axial ratio. |
| Chillagite | Tungsten-rich variety of wulfenite (compare also Stolzite-Wulfenite Series). It was proposed as a new mineral, but is considered a structural variant of wulfenite (unlike wulfenite, it crystallises in space group I4 due to W-Mo ordering; Jury et al., 2001... |
| Chromium-bearing Wulfenite | A chromian variety of Wulfenite |
| Tungsten-bearing Wulfenite | A tungsten-bearing wulfenite. |
| Vanadium-bearing Wulfenite | A variety of Wulfenite containing V in substitution for Mo. |
Relationship of Wulfenite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Powellite | Ca(MoO4) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Ronpetersonite | BaWO4 | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Scheelite | Ca(WO4) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Stolzite | Pb(WO4) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 2,601 photos of Wulfenite associated with Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| 1,217 photos of Wulfenite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1,149 photos of Wulfenite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 539 photos of Wulfenite associated with Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| 421 photos of Wulfenite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 393 photos of Wulfenite associated with Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 Β· H2O |
| 341 photos of Wulfenite associated with Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 311 photos of Wulfenite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 286 photos of Wulfenite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 277 photos of Wulfenite associated with Dioptase | CuSiO3 Β· H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.GA.05 | Fergusonite-(Ce) | CeNbO4 Β· 0.3H2O |
| 7.GA.05 | Fergusonite-(Nd) | NdNbO4 |
| 7.GA.05 | Fergusonite-(Y) | YNbO4 |
| 7.GA.05 | Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| 7.GA.05 | Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| 7.GA.05 | Stolzite | Pb(WO4) |
| 7.GA.05 | Suseinargiuite | NaBi(MoO4)2 |
| 7.GA.05 | Ronpetersonite | BaWO4 |
| 7.GA.10 | Formanite-(Y) | YTaO4 |
| 7.GA.10 | Iwashiroite-(Y) | Y(Ta,Nb)O4 |
| 7.GA.15 | Paraniite-(Y) | Ca2Y(AsO4)(WO4)2 |
| 7.GA.20 | Takanawaite-(Y) | YTaO4 |
Fluorescence of Wulfenite
Fluorescence noted from a small number of localities. Medium intensity Yellow in LW
Other Information
Electrical:
Some individual crystals may be piezoelectric.
Thermal Behaviour:
Melting point 1065Β°C.
Notes:
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.
Reported to alter to Descloizite, Ilsemannite and Vanadinite.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Wulfenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4322.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Wulfenite
Reference List:
Klaproth, M. H. (1797) Untersuchung des Gelb-Bleierzes. In BeitrΓ€ge zur chemischen Kenntniss der MineralkΓΆrper Vol. 2. Rottmann, Berlin. p.265-275.
Regnard, H. (1882) Sur un Γ©chantillon de WulfΓ©nite de Yuma (Arizona) Bulletin de MinΓ©ralogie, 5 (1) 2-3 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1882.1684
Lacroix, Alfred (1883) Sur la wulfΓ©nite du Beaujolais. Bulletin de MinΓ©ralogie, 6 (5) 80-83 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1883.1799
Barthoux, J. (1924) Description de quelques minΓ©raux marocains. Bulletin de MinΓ©ralogie, 47 (3) 36-45 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1924.3928pp.36-39
Russell, Arthur (1946) An account of the Struy lead mines, Inverness-shire, and of wulfenite, harmotome, and other minerals which occur there. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 27 (192) 147-154 doi:10.1180/minmag.1946.027.192.01
Hibbs, D. E., Jury, C. M., Leverett, P., Plimer, I. R., Williams, P. A. (2000) An explanation for the origin of hemihedrism in wulfenite: the single-crystal structures of I41/a and I tungstenian wulfenites. Mineralogical Magazine, 64 (6) 1057-1062 doi:10.1180/002646100550056
Secco, L., Nestola, F., Dal Negro, A. (2008) The wulfeniteβstolzite series: centric or acentric structures?. Mineralogical Magazine, 72 (4) 987-990 doi:10.1180/minmag.2008.072.4.987
Cora, IldikΓ³, Czugler, MΓ‘tyΓ‘s, DΓ³dony, IstvΓ‘n, ReΔnik, Aleksander (2011) On the symmetry of wulfenite (Pb[MoO4]) from MeΕΎica (Slovenia) Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure Communications, 67 (6) doi:10.1107/s0108270111015769
Localities for Wulfenite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
β - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Red Cloud Mine, Silver Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA