Rocksday

Wulfenite

A lead molybdate forming thin, square, bright orange plates.

Wulfenite specimen
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify wulfenite

  • Thin square tablets, often vivid orange.
  • Heavy and brittle.
  • Brilliant luster.

Often confused with

Where it's found

  • Red Cloud mine, Arizona
  • Los Lamentos, Mexico
  • Mežica, Slovenia

Uses

Molybdenum ore and collector specimens.

Rock tumbling

Not suitable for tumbling. Contains lead.

Did you know?

Wulfenite is Arizona's official state mineral.

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