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Wulfenite

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Red Cloud Mine, Silver District, Trigo Mts, La Paz Co., Arizona, USA
© 2003 John H. Betts

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Formula:
Pb[MoO
 
4
]
System:TetragonalColour:Orange-yellow, yellow, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, ResinousHardness:2½ - 3
Name:Named after Austrian Jesuit mineralogist, Franz Xavier von Wulfen (1728-1805), who authored a monograph on the lead ores of Bleiberg, Austria.


Scheelite Group.

A secondary mineral typically found as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color in the oxidized zones of hydrothermal lead deposits.

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 Mts, 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
Cell Parameters:a = 5.436(2) Å, c = 12.068(8) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.22
Unit Cell Volume:V 356.61 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
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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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: Peaks:
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)

Optical Data of Wulfenite

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

Related to:
  • Scheelite Group
    • 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.05Formanite-(Y)
    YTaO
     
    4
    7.GA.05Powellite
    Ca[MoO
     
    4
    		]
    7.GA.05Scheelite
    Ca[WO
     
    4
    		]
    7.GA.05Stolzite
    Pb[WO
     
    4
    		]
    7.GA.10Paraniite-(Y)
    Ca
     
    2
    		Y(AsO
     
    4
    		)(WO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    27.3.1Lindgrenite
    Cu
     
    3
    		[OH|MoO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    27.3.2Powellite
    Ca[MoO
     
    4
    		]
    27.3.4Koechlinite
    (BiO)
     
    2
    		[MoO
     
    4
    		]
    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
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    27.3.9Moluranite
    U(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    2
    		Mo
     
    5
    		O
     
    19
    		·12H
     
    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
    French names:
    MélinosePlomb jaunePlomb molybdaté
    German names:
    BleimolybdatCarinthitGelbbleierzKärntherischer BleispathMolybdänbleierz
    MolybdänbleirzMolybdänbleispathWulfenit
    Latin names:
    Plumbum spatosum flavo-rubrum
    Russian names:
    Вульфенит
    Spanish names:
    CarinthitaWulfenita
    Varieties:
    Calcian WulfeniteChillagiteChromian WulfeniteTungstenoan WulfeniteVanadian Wulfenite

    Other Information

    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).

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

    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), Trailé 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) Konigliche 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-Museum: 38: 15.

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

    Comucci (1926) 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 rendu 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.

    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.

    Internet Links for Wulfenite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Search for Wulfenite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Wulfenite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Wulfenite

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