Judging quality
Look for undamaged, translucent blades standing free of the matrix. Wulfenite is exceptionally fragile and complete specimens are far rarer than the abundance of the mineral suggests.
Molybdate
Wulfenite
Thin tabular crystals like stained glass windows, ranging from butterscotch yellow to the legendary deep red of Arizona's Red Cloud Mine.
Care
Contains lead and is very soft. Never wash or handle the crystals directly.
History & lore
The Red Cloud Mine in Arizona produced what is widely considered the finest wulfenite ever found, and is now essentially exhausted.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Wulfenite
- What is Wulfenite?
- Thin tabular crystals like stained glass windows, ranging from butterscotch yellow to the legendary deep red of Arizona's Red Cloud Mine.
- How hard is Wulfenite and what is it made of?
- Wulfenite is a Molybdate-family mineral with the composition PbMoO4. It crystallizes in the tetragonal system and rates 2.75-3 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in orange, yellow, red.
- Where does Wulfenite come from?
- Notable localities for Wulfenite include USA (Arizona, Red Cloud Mine), Mexico, Morocco, Slovenia.
- How do you tell good Wulfenite from filler?
- Look for undamaged, translucent blades standing free of the matrix. Wulfenite is exceptionally fragile and complete specimens are far rarer than the abundance of the mineral suggests.
- How do you care for Wulfenite?
- Contains lead and is very soft. Never wash or handle the crystals directly.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.