Wulfenite
Wulfenite is a molybdate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with notable Chinese occurrences.
About Wulfenite
Wulfenite is a molybdate mineral in the scheelite group and has the chemical formula Pb(MoO₄). It crystallizes in the tetragonal system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.
Identification & care
Wulfenite typically forms tabular square platelets (often paper-thin); pyramidal; massive. Its color range is broad, including orange, orange-red, yellow, honey-yellow, gray, brown, white, and olive-green. The luster is adamantine, resinous, sub-adamantine, the streak is white, and specimens range from transparent to translucent. The cleavage is distinct on {001}. The fracture is uneven to conchoidal, which aids identification.
Collector context
How it forms
The geological setting for Wulfenite is typically secondary mineral in oxidized zones of lead ore deposits. It is commonly found in association with mimetite, cerussite, vanadinite, dioptase, fluorite, calcite.
Classic Chinese localities
**Dexing Cu-Mo-Au ore field** is an important Chinese source for the species.
Why collectors care
Wulfenite is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.
What affects value
Value in Wulfenite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.
Naming history
The name Wulfenite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.
