Crystal Wulfenite

Chemical Formula

PbMoO₄

Composition

Lead molybdate
 

Color

Bright yellow, orange, and orange-red. Rarely brown, gray, white, or black.

Streak

White

Hardness

3

Crystal System

Triclinic

Crystal Forms 
and Aggregates

Most often as thin tabular crystals with a square or octagonal shape and very narrow mid-section. Crystals can be very flaky and fragile, and are often in platy aggregates. May also be in long-angled bipyramidal crystals, in dipyramidal crystals, and as thick, cube-like crystals.
 

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

Specific Gravity

6.5 - 7

Luster

Adamantine, resinous

Cleavage

2,1

Fracture

Subconchoidal to uneven

Tenacity

Brittle

Other ID Marks

Occasionally fluorescent dark yellow or orange in shortwave UV light, and dark orange to red in longwave.
 

In Group

Tungstates and Molybdates

Striking Features

Brillant color, crystal habits, and high specific gravity

Environment

As a secondary mineral in hydrothermal replacement lead deposits. 
 

Rock Type

Sedimentary, Metamorphic

Popularity (1-4)

2

Prevalence (1-3)

2

Demand (1-3)

1